The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-12-08
TAKE PRECAUTIONS.

Now that we are putting up number
of high buildings, and are erecting
hotels and will be doing so as we con-
tinue to progress, it is time that we
should consider the safety of these
buildings is case of fire. Many build
ings have been erected which are con-
sidered fire proof. 1t may be safely
said that no one has yet erected a
building which is absolutely fire proof.
This has been shown again and again
by the destruction by fire of many so
called fire proof buildings i'll New York
and other large cities.
1t is true there is not nel:,y SO much
danger from fire in buildings in this
city, that is buildings devoted to bls-
ness purposes as there is in buildings
erected where there J.; cold weather
which necessitates The use Of fire, of
furnaces to supply no, air ana so forth.
But even then there is the danger of
live wires, of carelessness with matches
and the possibility of conlaGratio1 n
adjacent houses or stores which are not
fire proof.
There should be therefore some
thought be taken by the companies that
own large buildings to provide against
the danger of fire or panic, even though
the danger may be remote. AS far as
one can judge the system of fire escapes
which has been applied to some of the
large buildings recently constl ucted in
this city is not very adequate. There is
no law to force such construction but it
should be made. Especially should this
be urged upon those who are building
large wooden houses for public use. If
care of this kind is not taken we shah
some day have fire horror such as has
occurred again and again on the main
land, and dozens of people will be
running round cacking as to what
ought to have been done. What is
wanted is something done now. Pre-
vention is a heap better than investiga-
ton afterwards
Whether the fire department is pro-
vided with proper material for meeting
with fires is high buildings is doubtful.
The writer is not aware that the De-
partment is provided with nets to catch
those who jump from upper windows
place to familiarize the firemen with
the use Of the nets even if the depart
ments possesses them. Some of these
days there will be a wild figure stand
ing on a window ledge with roaring
flames behind and a sheer drop of forty
TO sixty feet to the hard pavement
There will be an awe stricken crowd
and helpless fire department. There is
no dream about this. 1t will come. and
we should be prepared.
1t was only a couple of years or so
ago that one of the dOrmitories at Ha-
ward took fire. A student who never
noticed the cOmmotion, being Immersed
in his work, was caught in his room.
The staircase was a blazing furnace. He
got onto his window sill and there sat
till finally he had to jump. All he had
TO jump into was blanket, and at five
stories blanket is a small mark. He
nearly missed it, and the bulk of the
men standing round ran, but four foot
ball men held on, and though the man
was stunned, he recovered. We went
no such scene here.
Again are the members of the force
trained to go up the front of high
buildings by means of short ladders
which are hooked from window sill to
window sill. In the large cities on the
mainland where ever high buildings
are put up this drill is essential
TO the proper carrying on of fire de-
partment. Up to the present our fire
department has been efficient, but there
are changed conditions and those con-
ditions will have to be met
The Star is no alarmist. Fires are
unlikely, but at the same time it is
essential that proper precautions should
be made to meet them if they come.
Buildings should have fire escapes and
the fire department should have all ma
terial for dealing with big buildings on
fire, and should have it's men thorough
ly trained to use that material efficient
w