New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-08

Fire Chief Edward F. Croker, who prob
ably knows as much about fire fighting as
any man in the United States. says that
most fires are avoidable. In fact, he is
even more definite in his statements-for
that matter, everything the chief says ana
does is defnite-and declares that % per
cent of New York's fourteen thousand hres
a year could be cut right out by proper
housekeeping. And Mr.. Croker certainly
has comprehensive and deeply rooted ideas
on what proper housekeeping means
'Of course" he explained, II don't mean
only the small individual household
though that is included. ! refer to the
right way Of managing tenement houses
fathouses, apartment houses and every
other building exposed 10 any sort of fire
risk from unnecessary sources.
ITO begin with, ! want some legislation
passed that will give the New York Fire
Department the right to lay down the law
10 the careless property owner, and TO en-
force it, too 1 don't want any halfway
measures Make them comply with the
regulations or take drastic steps without
DELAY. For instance, If house owner
keeps his areaways, halls and fire escapes
Uttered up with lot Of rubbish I'd give
him twenty-four hours notice to clean up.
II by that time lie has not attended to the
matter I'D goes a cart from the Street
Cleaning Department and the stuff is
taken away at his expense. If he does not
pay up promptly slap a lien on the build
ing-that will bring them 10 time in
hurry.
TOO much importance cannot be at
,Ie u-hi prpVailS
many buildings all over town. The refuse
allowed TO accumulate around tenements
IS a menace in q number Of ways, and I'm
speaking only from the flreman's point Of
view at that. First Of all, it is likely to
catch fire from a spark or discarded
cigar butt. Then, IT obstructs free passage
from the building in case Of fire, thus IN
terfering with the egress Of the tenants,
RS we'll as preventing the firemen from en-
tering the place without delay. This is es-
Decially true in cases where the fire escapes
must be relied on. by reason Of the stairs
and halls having become impossible on
account Of the flames.
"A walk through the East Side, for In
stance, will convince any one that fire es-
Yapcs are used for every purpose from
flower garden 10 resting place for the
babys cradle.
Furthermore l would insist on all halls,
stairways and cellars being we'll lighted
ut all hours Aside from the more obvious
reasons for this, ii will make II unneces-
sary for the man getting home late at
,ieht. absorbed more deeply in the
thought of frewater than that OF fire risk,
10 try to light his way with matches.
"That. By the way, Is another thing I
would do away with-sulphur matches.
Why, if an ordinance were passed allowing
Cnly safety matches to be sold 1t would
decrease our annual fire list by six hun
bred fires right on the jump.
But TO return 10 the safeguarding OF
buildings by their owners. great many
fires start in the cellars. Make them put
sprinkler systems In. and have no sort Of
connection between the upper stories and
the cellar The only entrance should be
from the yard. This would make it almost
impossible for fire to get a start, and II
Il did get one 1t could make no great head
way before the arrival OF the engines.
NO awnings should be permitted except
those made according to an approved de-
sign and OF freproof material. Six hun
dred fires yeay are traced to this cause
alone, generally originating from lighted
cigars or cigarettes dropped from an upper
window.
IF all gas brackets were removed from
the proximity Of windows and their lace
curtains and draperies we could strike off
another six or seven hundred fires from
our records annually.
Then we could do away with two or
three hundred more by prohibiting the sale
of candles and wax tapers. And. OF course,
kerosene should be eliminated as means
OF starting fires in cook stoves