Show LIVES AT STAKE it is a common belief that a building supplied with numerous easily reached exits is safe from fire so far as loss of life is con berned the building may burn we think but occupants may easily escape while the fire is in the minor stage the truth of the matter accord ing to recent pronouncement by tire lire prevention engineers is that thai ample exits important as they ure are may offer little protection to U buildings occupants if firo fire breaks out in ill many buildings there are excessive numbers of open stairways elevator shafts wild and light courts these are prolific causes of death fro from M smoke and fumes particularly in apartment part ment houses hotels and schools few of us realize the rapidity with which flames can spread when aided by large ail spaces A person may be overcome before he can reach an exit only a few feet distant as a long list of horrible holocausts g giitl I 1 biml testifies this example of fire dangers indicates the vital need for up to date scientifically drawn building codes tor for small towns as well as great cities during the last ten years or so there has been a gratifying increase in the number of municipal codes put into effect but a dangerously high percentage of communities still lack them the res result alt is construction below even a minimum standard of fire safety furthermore the tact fac t that youl town may have a building code end the matter in some instances codes are largely dead they are seldom 01 01 never enforced enforce cL in other instances they are inadequate to cope with modern conditions and must be ex ten revised if they are to be made even comparatively ef effective fee heres a problem in whick which all of us have a very direct interest for all of us have lives to protect irrespective of the potential destruction of property involved |