Salt Lake Telegram | 1945-10-11 | Page 11 | Apartment House Fire Probe Shows Ordinance Violations

Apar Apartment ment House Fire Are Probe Shows Ordinance I Results Result of ot an nn investigation of ot a afire afire I I fire which gut gutted d an apartment I house at E. E South Temple I Wednesday were disclosed Thursday Thursday Thurs Thurs- day by Fire Chief J J. J K Piercey who ordered the probe The building was a private residence residence residence resi resi- dence which had been converted Into an apartment house without a a. proper permit its exits were In Inadequate inadequate inadequate in- in adequate a garbage chute in the building ng was not constructed In accordance with pity city regulations and a furnace was being Installed without a proper permit investigators investigators gators revealed Fire Marshal W. W J. J Smith assisted assisted as as- asI I by William L. L Butler chief chic engineer eltY smoke vision division and W V Y Tipton city building inspector tor made the Investigation Chief Piercey declared that persons per per- sons BOn contemplating any remodeling remodeling remodel remodel- ing of at a private residence Into a multiple Dwelling for lor their o own safety and that of ot their tenants should obtain a permit which will Insure safety of the structure by adherence to the building code Before the top floors of the apartment house houe may be occupied again the building will m have to meet all requirements o of city ordinances ordinances ordinances or or- he added There were three ideal conditions conditions condi condI- for tor the start of a fire in this building Chief Piercey declared There were children playing with matches the biggest cause of ot fires in Salt Lake City in 1944 paper and rubbish were allowed to accumulate accumulate accumulate ac ac- ac- ac cumulate and there was faulty construction allowing a rapid spread of the fire It is remarkable that everyone was rescued If It the fire had start start- ed at night it Is doubtful if It the occupants could have got out of the tho building in view of the rapid spread of or of orthe the fire