THE GLOBE. MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1881. FIRE ESCAPES AND FIRE PREVENTION.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2233, 25 April 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1881. FIRE ESCAPES AND FIRE PREVENTION.

The importance of adequate provision for the above objects is such that we return to notice the various projects that from time to time are laid before the City Council. At its meeting on the 4th of April, Mr. Superintendent Harris proposed a system of fire signalling, and also the introduction of a chemical engine carrying 100 gallons of carbonic acid gas, in view of many parts of the city being badly supplied with water for purposes of fire prevention; but there is another subject connected with this question to which wo desire to call attention, and that is the total absence of any means of escape from burning buildings. Some time since we noticed the provision made for this object by the late lessee of the Golden Fleece Hotel in this city, which was the provision of rope ladders at the windows of all the upper rooms of his hotel, so that in case of fire, and all the ordinary means of exit being cut off, the occupants of these upper stories could easily make their exit from the building. Now, although this is an excellent provision in this particular ease, yet it is one which we believe will not be generally adopted. The majority of the buildings in the more thickly populated parts of our city are of two or three stories in height, from the upper floors of any of which, if the lower portion should happen to be burning, escape would bo almost impossible. For such an emergency many of the cities and towns of Europe and America have made outside provision. At sunset, night after night, within distances not exceeding a quarter of a mile from each other, fire escapes are placed, each in charge of an attendant, who remains at his post till the busy hour of the returning day’s bustle and toil tells that the city has shaken off the lethargy of night. At the first alarm of fire, the attendant starts off with his fire-escape for the scene of the conflagration, and rears it against the burning building, when, mounting its ladder, he gains access to the upper stories of the burning pile, proceeding from room to room in order to rescue the half awakened, frightened inmates from death by fire. We ask the question, Has not the time arrived when this truly grand institution should bo planted in our midst ? It is not so long since the fatal fire in Dunedin, with its great loss of life, occurred, that the stem lesson then taught need be forgotten, or its sad teaching passed by without profit to ns. The old adage that “ Prevention is better than cure,” bears upon this question, and the cost of the necessary plant is not so great as to preclude the introduction of the fire escape into Christchurch. The salary of the attendant is the largest item, which in other cities is raised by subscription, and we doubt not the same course would bo available here. It might be urged that a city composed of such buildings as we find in Christchurch does not need the appliances necessary in such cities as London, New York, or Chicago. To this we can only add, that a leap for life from such buildings as those recently erected at Fisher’s cerner, or those now being built in Manchester street, would be a fatal one, and we hope the time is not far distant when a fire escape will bo seen night after night on the space in front of the Godley Statue, ready for the work of rescue. It is of importance that property be saved from destruction by fire, and for this purpose the Fire Police were organised, but it is of infinitely greater import to save life, and wo commend this proposal to those in our midst to whom pertains the supervision of such matters. The subject requires no comment. Should a disastrous fire, such as we have called attention to, unfortunately happen here, and we are prepared for it, it will be well; if not, it will not be for lack of timely warning, although doubtless in this matter, as in almost everything else, we shall decide to luy experience, instead of profiting by our neighbors’ calamities. Closely allied with this question is that of fire prevention. Christchurch boasts a Fire Brigade that for intrepedity, pluck, and ability can truthfully add “ Nulli Secundns ” to their well-earned motto of “ Always Ready,” but they are often sadly handicapped by the miserably inadequate water supply for fire prevention, more especially in certain parts of the city. It seems past belief that with a plentiful supply of water flowing through our city some less costly method than is involved in fetching water from the Waimakariri has not been devised and carried into execution. We would suggest that steps should be taken in this direction, and a premium offered for the best method (in which practicable economy should be a feature) of making the Avon a source of water supply for Christchurch for purposes of fire prevention. There is a method by which the present tanks could be made to play a more important feature than has hitherto been the case. On more than one occasion, in the midst of a big fire, the cry has been raised that the tank is running dry, and consequently the engine has been moved to another tank. Now, this involves delay, and loss of valuable time, when not a moment is to be lost. To prevent such a contingency, if pipes were sunk at a dead level between the tanks, connecting them all with each other, the pipes to be about doable the size of the hose, such state

of things would bo prevented, as each tank would aid in keeping up the supjly of water. There is one other matter which deserves consideration. With a view to keeping steam up, ready for action at a moment’s notice, the celebrated Capt. Shaw, of London Fire Brigade celebrity, has the fire-engines so placed when “ off duty” as to allow a gas jet to be turned immediately under the boiler. On an alarm of fire being raised, the jet | is immediately turned back, the fire is kindled, and, as the fire-engine is soon dashing through the streets at headlong speed, the funnel gives indication that no delay will occur in getting up steam when the locality of the fire is reached. If this is deemed essential in cities whore timber buildings are unknown, it might certainly bo adopted with advantage here, where they preponderate. We urge the question of a water supply, adequate to the requirements of the city, upon our City Fathers. Wo doubt not they will refer us to the action of the ratepayers when the proposals of the Council as to the costly Waimakariri scheme and the palatial Town Hall were so adroitly joined as to ensure the defeat of both. Indeed, we are certain that if the same proposals were put to the vote again, the same fate would await them; but, if a carefully prepared and well thought out scheme for utilising the water that flows through Christchurch for fire prevention purposes were submitted, and it was clearly shown that a great per-centago of the sum required for the work would not be swallowed up in preliminary expenses and professional charges, we believe we are justified in predicting that a different reception would be accorded to it than was meted out to its costly predecessor.