FIRE ESCAPES

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIII, Issue 4031, 23 August 1944, Page 2

FIRE ESCAPES

r FOR CAMBRIDGE BUILDINGS f I AMENDING THE BY-LAWS r i The question of providing fire escapes for two buildings in the business area owned by Mr C. H. ‘ Priestley, a former resident, was again before the Borough Council ‘ at its monthly meeting on Wednesday evening last in a letter from the Borough solicitor. The build--1 ings concerned include the old ’ bank chambers, the top storey of which is used as a residence. It was stated that this matter had been before the Council as the result of representations from the Fire Board, following on a report from the Brigade Superintendent. There was no fire escape at the back of the building and the exit I from the top storey was by a steep staircase that had a sharp rightangle turn. There was definitely a danger to the occupants. The matter had' been ’ placed before the owner previously, but nothing had been done. [ The town clerk (Mr F. T. Ray) said it did not appear that the Borough By-laws covered such a building, though there was a bylaw for hotels and boarding-houses. The by - laws needed amending to cover the matter under discussion and there was also another by-law that he would like the, council to go into. On the motion of Mr S. Lewis it was decided that the by-laws referred to be amended, but that in the meantime Mr Priestley be requested to carry out the wishes of , the council in interests of human safety. ' Clause 113 of By-law 7 at present states: “Every hotel, lodging-house, ; or manufactory of more than one ' storey above the street surface, 1 shall have iron ladders or other ' aporoved fire-escapes on the walls • from the upper storey to within 10 ] feet of the ground or surface, and 1 not less than eight inplies from the 5 wall.” ' 1