The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-08

such a. new stiIiNaNs, new exits, new
fire appliances some OF them reuuir-
ing II considerable investment Naturally
the property owner feels that that is a
hardship. The construction of the
buildings has been permitted and nov
to come in at this time and require an
owner to make such changes Is IA
heavy burden 10 place upon him. But
We have legal authority 10 compel
changes. The fire prevention law is
very broad.
Il will give you AN illustration OF how
this thing has been going on. We have
had since ! came here three or four
big fires-one IL. Brooklyn with "A loss
estimated IN the newspapers 20 be about
100000 Upon Investigation We found
that orders had been recommended TWO
years ago on this building for the in
stullation Of sprinkler equipment. new
exits, new doors cut between buildings
new stairways ana n number OF other
alterations. The orders were recon-
mcnded, please understand. but were
never issued. The bureau had Been IN
able 10 get 10 them.
The chief of the Fire Department
says that II these orders had been car
ried out that fire would have been eX-
tinguisred automatically by the ~prin-
klers. Fortunately no lives We're lost a.
this lire, but such condition requires
looking into and / am having the mat
ter investigated
Last saturday afternoon we had a
fire here in Manhattan In which fifty
firemen were overcome. Upon inVesti-
CATION we found that back IN 1912, when
this Bureau of Fire Prevention was first
created. an order was issued against
the building for a sprinkler equipment
and some other things The chief Of the
Fire Department says that ~ that order
had been complied with the fire would
have been put out automatically. We
find that oil the way through.
Heretofore the bureau has inspected
only on complaints as they came In from
citizens and other departments. The
effect OF that course might be that the
bureau might send an inspector to q
certain building and on his report order
changes TO make this building safe. but
the building next door may DO left in n
| dangerous condition and actual condi-
lions be az unsafe az ever. or course
tho block to block inspection will be a
big undertaking, but We arc going to
get To 1t.
The uniformed force has Leen really
| enthusiastic about this work. Its feel
ing is reflected by the attitude OF all the
| officers that have discussed 1t with. A
great many OF these men who are as
| signed to this work welcome the relief
from confinement in company quarters
| 1t also is valuable schooling to them
! They go out and obtain fine practical
| training fhAU far Ito ~. ,i,b
their district that is Invaluable in an
officer. Chief Kenlon, for instance. illus
| trated II this way. He said.
"'If ! go down to a fire and an officer
| comes to me and tells me that on the
fourth floor OF that building there Is n
door leading into the next building I
know at once that there Is a vulnerable
spot which I must protect, and I at
| once send men 10 that spot. While II
there Is nobody there who is familiar
with the Interior OF the building the
fire may be communicated to the next
building
| II have discussed this matter with
Mayor Mitchell on at least half n dozen
occasions since l have been here, and I
ind him deeply interested and SYM
pathetic. He regards this as ono OF the
important, constructive problems OF ais
administration. He has impressed upon
me the importance Of a vigorous policy
In this respect.
There is another phase Of this fire
prevention work which Is also of a
great deal of importance, relatively of
more importance than the public
realizes, and that Is the prevention of
arson. Chief Kenlon estimates that we
could reduce the fire loss n we had the
help OF strong arson bureau and the
help Of the Insurance companies about
s2,5Vo,o00 year. I have just been