IN CASE OF FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2134, 7 March 1908, Page 3

IN CASE OF FIRE.

ARE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAFE?

(Special to Times.s WELLINGTON, March C. Tho torrible calamity, as the result of the fire in the Cleveland (Ohio) school has caused the Post to make some inquiries as to the provision 111. the local schools in case of fire. In the Wellington .two-story wooden building . irth, tho head master, wall. :u , a blo j .orridor .and. auiefcvSi’.iessrs 1 .Hiat and Co. s swmers.(m diiiergers from G oooexung) ringing, of return tr switches, each of passes_f<\,- 1 e of ringing '.ill the is-i-ro'm different parts. At pre-»<s-?rrt"os scholars arc residing 011 the - premises, and from the upper story there are about ten exterior fire ladders leading to the ground, in addition to a wide bridge connecting with a corridor, and leading on to the high ground at the back. The scholars are regularly put through fire practice, and each evening Mr. •Firth personally visits every room in tho building. As far as is humanly possible, Air. Firth appears to have taken every precaution to guard against fire. Tilere are no hydrants in tho college, but chemical sprinklers have been providedand in the case of an outbreak the scholars could all ■be got out in safety in a very short space of time. Afr. Firth has recognised that if a fire did occur, probably no brigade in the world could - save the building once the flames had obtained a hold, as the structure is very old, and would burn like tinder. Recognising this, it is evident*” he lias given the question careful ccmsideration, and has concentrated his attention on making provision for the safety of the scholars. In the Government School it was found that .all the doors open inwards, and the danger in case of fire in some of these schools is apparently considerable. The Mount Cook Infant School, for' instance, with a roll of 400, is an unsuitable wooden building, built about 30 years ago, and practically speaking, there are only two 'doors in the whole place that could be used as exits. The headmistress thinks she could control the children and avert a panic in-the case of an outbreak of fire, but obviously, says the Post •reporter, this is not an excuse for the Education Board not making better nrc-vision for the sq£ety of the children. The doors leading into the playground are very narrow. In other schools the exits are not •adequate in case of fire, and at the Te Aro School some 400 or 500 young children are in class-rooms upstairs. From these rooms the only convenient exit is the staircase, and if this way was barred the children would hiobliged to get out 011 .to the roof of the adjoining one-storv portion, and would require to leap to the ground. Here the youth with cricket bat and football flourishes. The windows are all carefully wire-netted, set in wooden frames, which are securely bolted from the outside, and these windows could not be used in tho case of an outbreak of fire. The Girls’ High School is a large two-storied wooden building, and there is a large staircase from the upper floor to the ground floor, which is wide enough for -four girls to walk down abreast, giving plenty of room between the wall and the hand rail. Miss McLean said that no fire drill was practised in the school, but she did not think the girls would get beyond control in case of emergency. When asked if there were any firefighting appliances, Aliss McLean said there was a hydrant, and this was installed near tho main entrance, but when inspected by the reporter there was no hose attached. It appears that the hose is used for watering the lawns and cleaning windows, and is sometimes detached. At the Normal School tho headmaster said that what was more to be feared in the sqliool than firo, was earthquake, and of the effect of this upon young children Air. AVebb had had experience. The school was partly of brick, with all wooden parti- *• tions, and Air. Webb said that when the shock occurred he insisted upon the children first retaining tlieir seats, so as to allay any panic. This was successfully accomplished, and the youngsters were kept in hand from first to last.