Show Fire Chief Cites an Encouraging Fire ire Fire Chief Piercey said he was very encouraged by a fire which occurred in Salt Lake City the other night That may sound a little odd odd for for a fire chief to be encouraged by a fire fire but but well we'll explain The chief was encouraged because because because be be- cause in this fire no one was burned to death or even singed singed although although several persons easily might have been The fire was in an old home converted converted converted con con- into a unit six-unit apartment A Ablaze Ablaze Ablaze blaze was discovered in the downstairs foyer at 5 30 am a.m. According to Assistant Assistant Assistant Assist Assist- ant Fire Chief A. A Ray Ward Vard who di directed directed directed di- di the fire fight the occupants of four upstairs apartments showed unusual unusual unusual un un- un- un usual presence of mind If they had carelessly thrown open their doors the draft would have enabled the flames to tomake tomake tomake make much greater headway and they probably would have been overcome by smoke and fumes If they had tried to escape down the stairs they would undoubtedly undoubtedly undoubtedly un un- un- un have been burned to death One upstairs tenant says Chief Ward Vard felt her door instead of opening it That incidentally is the recommended recommended recommended mended technique When the door felt hot to her she did not open it but climbed out a window onto the roof of the front porch She aroused the occupants occupants occupants pants of another apartment who joined her there without opening their door All waited calmly even though flames were crackling on two sides of the porch roof for firemen to arrive and rescue them This too is recommended tech tech- Still another upstairs tenant opened his door when he smelled smoke smoke but but he did so carefully with his body against it so that he was able to slam it shut quickly when a hot blast from the roaring roaring roaring roar roar- ing fire came through the partially opened door Again this is recommended technique Seven persons living in those upstairs upstairs upstairs up up- stairs apartments might have died or been seriously injured if they had lost their heads and given in to panic None of them did get panicky They did the right thing and as a result all are safe and uninjured even though much of the house in which they lived was badly gutted by flames Its It's an encouraging fire story because because because be be- cause it does indicate that fire safety educational onal work pays And we hope this case with its demonstration of good fire safety procedure will wiB be a alesson alesson alesson lesson to many others and so result in inthe inthe inthe the prevention of still more tragedy and suffering in home or apartment house fires |