RISK OF FIRE IN THEATRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 77

RISK OF FIRE IN THEATRES.

HOW, TO AVERT- DANGER.' :': ' (Froh Oto^ Own" Cobbespondent.) \ - ■ , ." - "AUCKLAND, January • IS. Superintendent ,Wooliey, of' t'he "Auckland Fire Brigade, some interesting comments ; up^on fire risks' in theatres^ yesterday, apropos of the" 'recent "eatasti^phe in. America. , - ' ,•,»-,,*/.- •■, " The stage is the only real ' fire risk in a "theatre," he said, "and! think that when great spectacular displays ."are being given two firemen should be., stationed on the stage with . the hose - laid out . *nd ready. If ' that course were adopted in such oaies .there would be no possible, chance of a' fire getting out of hand. When 'a fire obours on the sto-ge the suffocating flames gush out into the auditorium, which ie practically, the- only exit for^ them. The fumes are as much to be feared as the fire," end some of the - audience "are habl«» to be asphyxiated before they can do much more than leave their seats." Questioned on the difficulties which even modest skyecrapere present to the firefighters, the superintendent said that buildings were now being erected so high that the water pressure could not reach and deal with fire on the topmost floor. Every 100 feet 'the hose has to be taken up the pressure is reduced by 431b. to "the square inch. "The ordinary pressure at His Majesty's Theatre in Auckland for instance," said the~ superintendent, is 1001b. What is a good fire-fighting stream" on the bottom floor of a six or seven storey building is only " capable oL de.ahng with an incipient outbreak on the top. Usually these high buildings are so -much enclosed that they can only be attaoked from the front, and' obviously thaf~ 16 a great disadvantage from cur point of view. - - Asked as to the , possible danger of lire arising in connection with .moving; picture shows, Mr. Woolley unhesitatingly said there was always an element" of- risk with these - from the> illuminating power they used, but the -public will Jiave them, he added, "and the risk has to be' taken. However, if firemen were stationed rea^y to cope with any outbreak all possible danger would be obviated."' - ■ „