Evening journal., 1908-03-07
SAY FIRE DRILLS
ARE NOT FROLICS
Supt. Twitmyer, However,
Points Out Some Schools
Lack Fire Escapes

In view Of the criticism Of alleged
inadequate fire equipment Of Whining
ton schools, the semi-monthly confer.
ence Of public school principals in the
High School yesterday assumed more
than usual interest One criticism
more than any other aroused the
teachers to indignation-the assertion
OF a member Of the Board of Trade that
the public school fire drills were "mere
frolic for the children" Much time.
care and study has been directed by
the teachers to these drills and their
ire was not to be repressed.
'The man who says the fire drills
are froics does not know what he is
talking about" said Superintendent
Twitmyer Every principal resents
the imputation that there is a want
Of thouShtfulness."
The Board Of Trade at its last meet
ing referred an investigation of fire
protection in the schools to the com.
mittee on education. This committee
win advise the Board of Education
Superintendent Twitmyer is chairman
OF the committee.
Frequent Fire Drills.
superintendent Twitmyer admitted
last night that some Of the public
schools here are poorly protected so
far as fire escapes are concerned. Few
OF the buildings have fire escapes and
the only means OF escape are the wide
Railways and big doors. Frequent
fire drills are held. however. at least
cnce a month. and the school suners
intendent fears no possibility Of there
being a repetition of the Coliinwood
disaster here. He declared that the
wide Railways and stairs and their
situation dispelled all apprehension.
"All the doors open out" he said, "and
there is not locked door in any Of the
schools, except in cloak rooms OF
closets"
According TO the reports Of fire drills
made TO DR. Twitmyer. the smaller
schools have been emptied within one
minute, and the larger schools in
cluding the High School, within one
minute and forty seconds. DR.. Twit-
myer said;
No Fire Escapes.
There are no fire escapes in any ri
the two-story sChoolhouses. The onl,
/ three-story schoolhouses that arr
equipped with FIRE escapes are Schools
Nos 2, 6. T. The other tiIree-stori
schoolhouses, which are Schools Nos
16, /, 2S. "a and the High School. an,
without fire escapes. School No II
is two-story building, but it is equip
ped with n fire escape.
'The High School has five exits
Three lead down from the third fooi
TO the first floor and five from the first
floor to the streets. All the stairways
in this building are constructed Of iron
and safe. and It would be a physical
! impossibility for anything similar tc
] the Collinwood accident 70 occur IN
this building. All the other schools
/ have wooden stairways. but are well
/ equipped so far as exits are concerned
School No. % is a one-room frame
building and is really dangerous"
The schools. the number Of exits and
| those with fire escapes areas follows.
/ No. has three exits: No. 2. two exits
and a fire escape; No. 3. four exits,
/ No. 4. three exits: No. s. two exits: NO
! 6. three exits and two fire escapes; No
z. three exits and ono fire escape; No
s. four exits; No. ., seven exits; No 10
four exits; No. II. FIVE exits and a real
stairwav, which Is outside and really q
! fire escape; No. -. four exits; No. Is
four exits; No. IL. four exits; No. is
three exits; No. 16. a three-story build
! ing. eight exits; No. Il, five exits; No
IS. two exits. a two-room building; No
10. four exits and two stairways; No
20, four exits and two stairways: No
q. four exits; No. %, one exit. a one.
room building; No. 23. three exits; No
"a. three exits. thres-story buildingi
No. %. three exits; No 26. four exits
No. q. two exits; No. 2S, two exits
Hiey School. FIVE exits, a three-story
building.