OCR Text |
Show S.- H. Fire Hazard Is Great DO SOUTHEASTERN1 ERS at last realize how dangerous the fire problem is? This is the question which was propounded pro-pounded this week by Assistant Fire Chief A. Ray Ward, himself a southeasterner, in a special interview with The Bulletin. Mr. Ward is no alarmist, but he points out that the same disaster which occurred at the Stratford Ward chapel could happen in the Highland Park Ward chapel, or in any residence or business in the Sugar House area. In answer to last week's Bulletin editorial. Mr. Ward commented that he was at home, 2515 Dearborn, when he heaird the sound of the first engine and then saw the smoke. He quickly jumped in his car, raced to the Stratford Ward, and began supervision of fire control. No one, except himself, him-self, the building custodian and the firemen, knew how far the flames had gone by that time. Holes were cut in the roof, he said, but the flames were shooting out like a "blast furnace at Geneva Steel Company." He added: "If there had been any fire walls (other than the one between fhe old ward and the new addition), we could have stopped the fire at any one of those points." Few people realize, Mr. Ward said, that the initial alarm sounded by one of the residents directed the fire department to handle a blaze in a shack at Stratford Ave. and 15th East. Even so, the customary two engines were sent, and they traveled just as quickly as if it had been a general alarm Sugar House has no ladder truck, so even if the fire department depart-ment had known that it was a large building ablaze, it would have been necessary to dispatch a ladder truck from 1724 South Main. Valuable time is lost by having the engines come so far. In regard to the roof, the assistant chief pointed out that it would have been sure death to put firemen on the roof, and would have made little difference in the progress of the fire. Now, southeasterners, here's a great project for you. For your ownafety it is essential that two improvements be made out here. And you are the people to see that they're accomplished. accom-plished. First, a new station should be bu'ilt in the vicinity of 13th East and 27th South streets. Secondly, the old Sugar House station NO. 3, built in 1914, should be moved to another location close to the business district, but where there is more building space and less traffic. When this is done, a ladder company should be added to the Sugar House station. Every day that passes without these improvements being be-ing made means an increasing possibility of destruction and death by fire. The Sugar House business district could easily go up in flames without better protection, as could residences and buildings in the Southeast area. If you value your lives and property, you'd better do something drastic NOW about getting better fire protection. I - |