PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 241, 4 July 1908, Page 13

PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRE.

« LESSONS OF THE CHRISTCHURCH CONFLAGRATION.,' V (BT TEItCGBAPH—TEESS ASSOCIATION.) Chrlstohuroh, July 3; . Ono of . tho principal lessons of tho many so dearly learned from tho groat firo in tho hoart of-the.city, is apparently being ignored in the'erection of some of the .buddings which' aw to,occupy the old sites,' Tho chief factor in the rapid spread of . the'firo was the absence of protection from the .windows facing into tho network of narrow right of ways which separated the various ..business premises.; ' An inspection of the new' buildings shows that-this mistuke, which had such disastrous consequences, is going to bo repeated. In one case tho back windows' of no fewer tlmri foiir large business establishments will bo looking into one of these' narrow passages,' and so far- as can bo learned not a-single window of the dozens there is to be protected against possible outbreaks of fire. This simply, moans that should another fire occur, and securo a sufficiently firm hold, the heat ;n'ill break all tho windows within tho 'comparatively short^''.radius,' and . nothing could stopithe firo spreading. Tho glass chiefly used is. ordinary .'-window glass/ nnd the panes are fixed 'into wooden sashes. -lu'some cases the windows':''ai;o''guardod'jby' iron,'.bars;; but this is a prm)rit{fltt , %gail))t i, fbbbery # rather than fire, '. arid ! evont of an' 'outbreak : the 1 bars would constitute, a;serious obstacle to tho enWv of firemen into the building. As [in exception; to .tho general rule, it mnv be l mentioned that,in the new D.I.C. building' elaborate .precautious,against fire, both .from within, and' without, .are being taken. The side windows are to be of wired-plassi fixed in steel frames. : Tho inside 5 walla will be lined w,ith asbestos sheets, and overhead th«ro trill be an automatic sprinkler. Thr roof will be flat, and surrounded bv a lantern

light of wired glass in a stool frame. Tn one or two other cases wired glass and steol window . frarrVs are being installed,'-and itis probable that some windows now unprotected will oventunlly bo covered,with either wire gauze or iron shutters. On the-whole, however, the absence, of reasonable precAU:tions in the. centre of the block- must strike one as surprising in the licht of past events.