The Washington times., 1904-01-08
NEED OF FIRE ESCAPES
ON ALL HIGH BUILDINGS
No Modern Structure Proof
Against Flame.
VIEWS OF CHIEF ENGINEER
Furniture, Carpets, Draperies, AID Ma
terials in Store Rooms Sources of
Danger in Large Edifces.

THE word 'freprOof is a misnomer
when used in connection with building
construction said Commissioner Mac
iarland this morning. I'm discussing the
general conditions throughout the city
The correct term should be 'fre-re-
sistant' or slow-bu burning The con
gress OF fire underwriters which con-
Nened in London last summer gave this
subject much consideration. and decided
hnnlly that no building could be made
absolutely proof from flames and the
attending fumes"
= Why is it. then. that six. seven.
eight. ana ten story apartment houses
are allowed to be constructed without
hte escapes. merely because they are
alleged to be fireproof?' " was the cues
ton asked the Commissioner.
~. Mcfarland was silent a moment.
ava then said he would have to be
gwen time in which to draft a reply.
As matter Of fact, the District Com
ntissioners. by an act Of Congress PASSED
and approved March ,, 1895. are vested
with discretionary power IN requiring
the erection OF fire escapes. II. as the
Commissioner says. there is no such
thing as freproof construction. it is
argued that no building of six. seven.
eight. on teu stories should be allowed
70 be maintained without fire escapes.
Small Comfort to Tenant.
az is small comfort to the family Iv-
ing in the seventh story of an alleged
freproof apartment house to know that
the building is SLOW burning" and that
the only avenue OF escape. the stairs
abound the elevator shaft. is moro than
liable To be blocked with flames and
suffocating fumes. The District Com
niissioners, by not requiring fire escapes
or all such buildings. assume re-
sponsibility for possible loss of life,
which. according to certain minor Off
ctals OF the local government. should
not be tolerated
Fire Chief Belt. in conversation with
a.Times reporter, gave a clear. ii not an
alarming. explanation OF the danger ex-
icing in these apartment houses.
= Assuring that a building is fireproof.
according to the present erroneous ac-
oeptation OF the fern. said the chief.
'ahat does not include the material
placed within the building The furni-
tsre and draperRs are all combustble.
and the Easements are generally used
for the storage of trunks. boxes. lum-
Der. and other material. all highly in
fammable.
This is where a fire would probably
start, and before an alarm could be
sounded the elevator shaft and stair.
way which surrounds il would be filled
with smoke and fumes This is the great
danger. because when the smoke has
obtained good Roadway and flame is
communicated the whole atmosphere
seems TO explode, and the tenants are
suffoceted. ] do not believe one in ten
persons who meet death in big fires ever
feels the touch Of flames.
Source of Danger.
An explosion. such as I have men
toned. might easily undermine a build
ing, and bring the structure down like
a house Of cards. The model apartment
house. according TO my way of think
ing. and the result Of forty years of fire
fighting, should have its storage rooms
Immediately under the Roof. on the top
door, instead Of IN the basement. The
fumes win never go downstairs. and
enough ventilation could be provided so
that. with .fire-resistant' construction
the. storeroom could be destroyed by fire,
70 the absolute ignorance of the tenants
below.
And II all these precautions were
taken. would insist on a fire escape be.
ing constructed so that any emergency
could be met with safety. The cost OF
q IRE escape is not drop I'm a bucket
when compared TO the cost Of the build
ing. or the value OF q single life Yet
some owners fight against spending a
extra expense would send them over
the hill 10 the poornOuse.' I would like
70 see fire escapes on every building in
the city over three stories in height"