Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-31
OFFICIAL OPINIONS DIFFER
Nave Various Views on What Consti-
tutes Fire Escapes.
FIND SOME BAD CONDITIONS
BuiIdinE Inspector and Fire Warden
Hold differently as 60 What the
Law Really Requires of
Tenement Owners.

diversity Of opinion as to what con
stitutes a fire escape exists between the
officials Of the building inspectors depart
nent and Ed Norris city fire warden.
Until the two departments can get together
on the proposition. Morris declares that
he wal be handicapped in his efforts TO
force owners OF tenement and fiat build
ings 70 comply With the sts;u-es providing
that all buildings more than two stories
in height must be equipped with lire
escapes.
The building inspectors declare that
wooden stairways erected on the rear OF
tenemeuts and flats are fire escapes, and
for this reason the owners have compiled
with the state statutes Morris contends
that such stairways are not fire escapes
IN any sense Of the word lie argues tnat
a fire escape. as meant in the statutes
means an outlet which Is butt Of noncom-
Fbustible material and which is erected so
that II wai stand. even after the walls OF
the buiiding have collapsed In few in
stances arc such exits provided, says
Morris IN the greater majority OF cases
the wooden stairways would be the first u
collapse and wonid cut OFF all means OF
escape from the buildings.
Morris Finds violations.
Morris has stated there are many build
ings IN the city tire owners OF which have
not complied With the statutes governing
fire escApes tie points to tenement build
inEs in particular
THAT q where the difference in opinion
arises. Building Inspector Withheld Is
absent from the city, but his assistant Dick
Grotte. Gays that practically every tene-
ment and flat building in the city is pro-
vided With suitable FIRE escapes.
IAN these buildings haze two escapes
ssys Grotte. The front stairways. when
are inciosed afford means Of escape as
do the back stsirwaSs. Both Of these come
within the meaning Of the word fire escape
and cover the requirements Of the state
laws" trr
Here Morris takes issue with the build
ing department
THE Building Inspector is a deputy fire
Insrectort' says Morris, "anG It is as
much his business as mine TO see that
the laws are complied with. II the depart
ment rules that wooden stsirways are fire
escapes we will have to get together on
the question. ] can't see how such a stair
way can be called a fire escape"
Norris VIII consult with state Deputy Fire
Commissioner Trouton and get his views on
What constltutes fire escape. Troutor
has said that II the city will not force the
srection of fire escapes the state win.
Morris starts InvestiEutiOn,
Morris has begun his investigation Of In
adequate fire escapes. He visited the
manufacturing section Thursday morning
Save with one exception, Morris found al
the owners of buildings he visited had
made ample provision. The Kirkendal
Shoe company, 1iO1-5 Harvey street, wal
ordered 70 remedy the conditions In tn
factory,
Though the company has two fire es
oapes. one on tho outside and the other OF
thu inside, the entrances were blocked
The outside escape was found to b.
hsdEVd la with machinery. The inside es
caPN which is inGlused by a brick wall 4
adeQu4te to afford escape for the employees
but the warden discovered that ali door
leading to the escape opened on the in
uidS Ne ordered the doors to be swung 8
they would open out.
The building is a five-story structure
FttSS gigas and as many men are employe
IN tho taotery,