DANGER TO LIFE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 226, 20 June 1931, Page 8

DANGER TO LIFE

Old Wooden Buildings HOTEL INSPECTION Fire Board’s Attitude With a view of minimising danger to life ; from . quick-burning structures, the superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade, acting under instructions by the Fire Board, recently prepared a report on an inspection of wooden hotels in the city. This report was presented at yesterday’s meeting of the Fire Board, and it was stated, after it had been read, that the same, if not greater, danger existed in the case of private hotels, boarding houses, and private hospitals, and that unless these types of buildings were included in the report, it would appear as if the Fire Board had a “set” on the licensed trade.

Having inspected all the wooden hotels in the city, Superintendent Creeke said that such premises lent themselves to rapid combustion, being built of old and well-seasoned timbers, with interior partitions of lining boards with scrim and paper. . Lessons From Recent Fires. “In generally fair stocks of inflammable spirits are ‘carried on the premises,” he continued. “This was fairly well exemplified in two recent experiences in Wellington—namely, the Railway Hotel and Panama Hotel fires. In the case of the former, a wooden building of two floors, a call was received about noon, and although the brigade was promptly on the scene the fire had spread rapidly throughout - the premises, resulting in total destruction.. The amazing speed with which the fire raged almost led to a fatality, a servant being almost trapped on the upper floor, although the fire occurred at midday. There is little doubt that had this occurred at night while the inmates were asleep, serious consequences would have resulted. The fire at the Panama Hotel, also a two-floored wooden building, occurred in the early hours of the morning. The whole of the premises were alight when the brigade arrived. Four persons were seriously burned, two of them subsequently dying in the hospital, t . , “In many cases the hotels inspected have the system of rope ladders and ordinary knotted ropes installed, a system totally inadequate to meet emergencies such as have been recently experienced. Escape by these means would be decidedly hazardous for women, children and elderly people. In view .of recent events, I am of the opinion that emergency means of escape in wooden hotels should be promptly considered. I strongly recommend the installation of the platform system or escape completely round the building, making it possible for easy egress from every bedroom window above the ground floor. This platform should be of iron, with suitable iron railings supported on iron brackets, bolted to the studs of the building. Automatic .Alarms Invaluable. “Automatic alarms would be invaluable. Not only would the inmates be warned immediately, but a call would be simultaneously transmitted to the brigade. The automatic sprinkler system has, of course, a distinct advantage over the thermostatic alarm. It has the same virtues, but in addition throws a strong shower over the affected area, which would either extinguish the fire or hold it in check-until the arrival of. the brigade. , “I would suggest that fire equipment in all’licensed hotels should be overhaul-; ed and tested annually by brigade During my inspection I found that some' licensees were ignorant of the method of operating hand extinguishers, and opportunity would be taken by the brigade officers at the annual inspection to explain and demonstrate the working of these appliances.” Mr. S. S. Dean questioned why iron railings were mentioned in the report.' If the building got sufficiently alight, the ir,on rails would get red-hot, making them worse than wood; “But what about the old boarding-houses?” he questioned. “The hotels have night porters, but take the number of boarding-houses that have hot fire escapes." Mr. F. Meadowcroft: I think the danger there is very much greater in board-ing-houses. The Chairman, Mr. N. W. Nelson: We have no jurisdiction. It is a matter for the City Council. The Superintendent: There are also private hospitals. The Chairman: We are opening up a very big subject. I think we should send a copy of the report to the City Council. “If we are going to make any recommendations,” said Mr. R. Semple, “we should include public boarding-houses and private hospitals in the report” The Chairpian: If we do not, it would look as if we were making a “set” on a particular trade, which we do not want to do. Mr. Meadowcroft: It Is a valuable report, and will be of assistance to the Licensing Bench. , It was decided, on the motion of Mr. Semple, .that private hotels, boardinghouses and private hospitals be included in the report, and that a copy be sent to the City Council and the Licensing Bench.