The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-10
FIRE Chief SAYS
AUDITORIUM WILL.
BURNLIKE TINDER
HanlOn Objects to an Addition
to Big Building.
'.It Places More People Inside
Danger ZOne," He Says.
MUST Be FIREpR00F, HE SAYS
1t Would Burn to Ground ii
Flames Got Good Start.
"Firemen Could Only Aid in
Escape of Occupants"
HanlOn Objects to an Addition
to Big Building.
MUST Be FIREpR00F, He SAYS
1t Would Burn to Ground If
Flames Got Good Start.
"Firemen Could Only Aid in
Escape of Occupants"

Joseph Hanlon chief of Topeka's
fire department, is absolutely opposed
to the expenditure of any money on
the present auditorium. either for en-
largement or repairs. unless the build
ing is made fireproof structure. The
chief so voiced himself this morning
And he is backed up by several mem
bers of the city commission and by the
city engineer, a. r. Young.
That the present auditorium is one
of the worst fire hazards in Topeka.
that it is certain to burn to the ground
if a fire ever gets a start on the in
terror and that it would be impossible
to fight such a fire effectively if the
auditorium should be filled with peo-
rle. are further statements made by
Chief Fan.on.
Building permits are granted or
withheld by the fire chief and with
the solid backing of a city commission
it might be possible to refuse to issue
a permit for the kind of building that
is being proposed. Chief Hanlon said
today he didn't know anything about
! that but that he would do everything
| in his power to prevent enlarging or
repairing the present building without
making it fireproof.
Immediately after the meeting of
! the State Teachers association said
Chief Hanlon, 81 was asked to appear
| before several men at the Commercial
| club and state my opinions about the
auditorium matter. l said then Just
what l am saying now; that 1t would
1 be foolhardy to spend lot more
money on the auditorium without fire
proofing it. They appeared to agree
with me at the time.
Would Burn Like finder.
/ Now, there appears to be a move
fment on to enlarge the present
building without making any provision
| for fire prevention. l am absolutely
opposed to it. That building would
/ burn like tinder if it took fire. EX-
cept the walls it is of wooden con-
struction and the work supporting
the balconies is properly put together
to burn like kindling. There would
be no way to save the building if it
took fire while filled with people and
| I object to spending money merely to
make it possible for more people to
get inside the danger zone.
Chief !Ianlon then explained what
would take place if a fire should
break out when the building was filled
| to capacity.
The firemen couldn't do a thing"
he said. ''They would simply have to
stand out in the street and wait for
the crowd to get out. How would it
4 be possible to get lines of hose into
the doors with thousands of people
1 stampeding out? In the meantime
think what would be happening in
side The floors are wood, the
entire balcony is wood and the in
terror would burn like a cracker-boX-
1t is all right to talk about emptying
that auditorium in five minutes after
a Bryan speech but that's different
from emptying it after some fool has
shouted fire or after smoke and fame
have appeared There are plenty of
exits, but how about reaching the
eXits?'
Scoffs at Asbestos.
1t was pointed out that suggestions
had been made for fire prevention by
using asbestos between the floors, but
Chief Hanlon scoffed at the idea.
Such an arrangement might delay
a fire a minute but it would be of no
practical benefit. I'm not an architect
and do not attempt to state exactly
what should be done. But all that in
terror woodwork should be torn out
and concrete and steel put in its place
1t is foolish to do anything else. If the
enlargement plans do not call for fire
proof construction, let the building
alone Leave it as it is. 1t will en-
danger fewer people. If it was en-
larged with wood and brick as is
planned it would be only a matter OF
three or four years until people would
be calling it unsafe again.
Chle1 danlOn turned around 10 MS
desk and picked up magazine put out
for fire departments. 1t contains all
the recent fires in public buildings
He turned page after page and the
fires were almost invariably in build
ings of brick and wood.
practically every disastrous fire il
a public building is in a building con
! structed just as the auditorium is con
Structed." said he. "Cities and states
are no longer building structures OF
that kind. Fireproof buildings pay fol
themselves and protect life at the same
| time"