OPERA HOUSE FIRE-EXITS

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1927, Page 2

OPERA HOUSE FIRE-EXITS

Nat Good Enough. INSPECTOR ’ S OPINION. That the condition of the fire exits at the Opera House is unsatisfactory and calculated to cause a disaster should a fire break out on the presence of an audience is indicated by a report received by the Borough Council last night from Mr A. J. Fairmaid, Fire Inspector, ami Mr T. Clarke, Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, who had been asked to go into the matter. Conditions at the Town Hall, on the other hand, are reported to be generally satisfactory. The inspectors state: — “In the first place we observed the time required to clear the Opera House after a performance on the nights of Tuesday and Wednesday, February Ist and 2nd, when the Australian Silver Band was playing. There were good houses and the time required to clear the place was 3J minutes. On the nigh of Friday, Hie 11th instant, after a picture show with a fairly good house, the time required to clear was 2! minutes. There have been no large gatherings in the Town Hall, so that no observation of value could be taken.

“An inspection of the premises in question has been made. Generally speaking the escapes in the Town Hall are, in our opinion, adequate. At the back of the hall on the ground floor, a seat should be removed from the western side, in order to leave a passage way to the main rear exit.

“In the ease of the Opera House conditions are not so good. The exit on the Western side of the house from the ground floor is wider than is the exiton to the street, despite the fact that two streams of people meet here, the one from the ground floor, the other from the gallery. “Also, at the street exit there is a step which, in a rush, would doubtless throw a number to the ground with disastrous results. The street door should be widened by extending it to the full extent allowed by the outside porch, ramp should also be provided from th level of the doorstep to the level of the footpath. “The exit from the gallery on the northern end of the building would be improved by being placed at the northeast corner. The stairs would then have a right angle turn in place of the existing 180 degree one, making them less difficult of negotiation. This arrangement would cause the crowd to break in the centre fo the gallery instead of moving practically in the one direction as at present. Exit notices should be placed over the northern exits from both gallery and ground floor and “Fire Exit” notices should be provided over the five exit doors, three on the ground floor and two in the gallon’. ’ ’

Cr "'v’illinms said that ns a matter of fact the Druids’ Hall was the most dangerous in the town. It would bo a veritable death trap in the event of a fire.

On the motion of Cr Doogan it was decided that the Engineer and Superintendent take stens to have necessary improvements made nt the Opera House and Town Hall bv the persons concerned. On Cr Williams’ motion it was decided that all other prfblic bui-ldif'gs be inspected. - “ (“