Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-27
MAPS OUT HIS PROGRAM
Lists Buildings Where Human Lives
Are Endangered.
BATTALION CHIEFS DUTIES
Superintends Practical Demonstra-
tons in Rescue Work-Warned
by Disaster in New York.

service today.
Building Inspector Morris Hacker has
written to New York for complete off,
cial report OF the Washington square,
New York. fire horror
Roy Haines. secretary OF the board for
the condemnation of insanitary buildings.
has written to tenement house Inspectors
in New York for all the Information
available which will aid Washington
authorities In preventing similar harvests
OF death in this city.
Although Chief Wagner. Building In
spector Hacker and Secretary Haines all
say there is little chance for so trcmen-
dous a loss of life by fire in Washington.
there is nothing in their conversation to
indicate that they do not fear the possi-
bility. All of them say that the saliva
ton of the city from such a fire lies in
constant vigilance. and to that end the
New York fire has acted like a spur.
Series of Drills Planned.
Chief Wagner today sent out an or
der detailing Battalion Chief Sullivan
to take charge of a series OF drills to
be held on the tower OF, No. s engine
house. North Carolina avenue between
9Th and 7th streets southeast, beginning
next Saturday. Although this is an
annual drill and school of instruction.
the chief said today that the news of
the New York fire would make this
very opportune moment to impress the
men with the lessons to be learned
by the great loss of life there.
In the drill men will jump from tops
OF buildings into nets held by their
fellows. Scaling ladders will be oper-
ated for every possible fire emergency
known to the department "Rescues"
ylyf1 he ma NJ xxysll h.,
quired to carry dummies UP and down
the ladders. AS nearly as possible
actual fire conditions will be in opera
ton.
cue with q life net except the fremen
who are holding it." said the chief today.
"A human body hurting through the air
from a height Of several stories is a ire
mendous missile. Men have been killed
holding the net from the shock of the
falling man or woman hitting in the
wrong spot.
Fire Traps in Washington.
Il will not say that Washington has no
dangerous buildings. speaking from a fire.
horror standpoint" continued Chief Wag-
ner. There are buildings here which
are fire traps and perhaps death traps.
know every one of them, i believe. and
in case an alarm comes from any OF
them I have my plans already worked
out / have a list OF buildings. any ono
Of which is doomed II fire makes any
sort Of Roadway in it, I'll call out near
ly every company in the city should
fire break out in them.
Some Of these will collapse i'm a short
time, I fear, and the first thing I'll do
will be to get the people out of every
building adjoining. Then L will surround
the burning trap as closely as possible
and prevent the fire from spreading.
The chief named over the buildings
which he considers dangerous. Some OF
them are well known. All of them are
Of Anticipated type. Some of them contain
a great many people.
Plans for Emergencies.
when / travel around the city in that
new automobile of mine I am constantly
making studies OF buildings. II / see a
building that looks as IL IL would make
a hard blaze to fight l get 10 work to
form a campaign against possible fire
In that way I do my best TO forestall
any such fire horror as they had in New
York Saturday. However. the fact that
we have no great factory buildings and
lofts high in the air, with thousands or
people in them, makes the problem here
q much less dihcult one.
There is one thing I am scared or In
even the flreproof buildings and that Is
the great danger OF smoke, . In ever ever
In some of the freproof buildings the
law does not call for fire escapes. but
the people who are above small fre
in those buildings may become panicky
fire escapes and perhaps they would not
be able to get downstairs through the
smoke"
Views Of Building Inspector.
Morris Hacker. building inspector, has
been reading newspaper accounts OF the
Washington square fire very closely. He
said this morning:
81 cannot gain q clear idea OF the exact
situation on the floor where the greatest
horror occurred. because the newspaper
accounts vary somewhat as to the situa-
ton Of doors. II there were six or
seven stairways. as I read In one &C
more people did not get out I have
written today to the New York IRE de-
partment to ask for the official report
and I win study It very closely when !
board for condemnation OF insanitary
buildings, has also written to some OF the
tenement house inspectors whom he
knows personally for all the Information
he can get on the subject.
There are buildings here in Washing
ton which are fire traps. and perhaps
every one knows IL. But they were erect
ed before the present era OF fire proofng
and fire escape and exit laws. The laws
do not require that these buildings be
torn down simply because some one
thinks they are dangerous from a fire
standpoint. But when these old buildings
come In for a remodeling We can catch
them when the owners ask for building
permit to make the repairs.
"Only recently found very bad con-
dition in the top OF a building. Four
teen girls were working there In danger
every day. The place was a typical fire
trap. The owner. however, was very
ton and put on the requisite fire escapes.
However, the so-called FIRE traps are very
few in number and they are watched
closely. I find a splendid disposition on
the part OF Washington owners to COM
ply with the law"
Relates His Experience.
Mr. Hacker has had some experiences
with building owners who were 10th TO
provide safety for employees. and told the :.
details Of some OF them.
Fire Marshal Nicholson Is detailed, rs
q part Of his regular duty. to see that
FIRE escapes are kept clean Of rubbish. He
also reports daily on fire conditions In
factories.
Roy Haines secretary Of the board for
the condemnation of insanitary buildings.
said today that he Is constantly on tho
lookout for traps in the tenements and
houses that are crowded with occupants.