Attic Fires.
IN the present day of rapid advancement in all branches of arts and mechanics, it is quite natural that many improvements should take place not only in the appliances for, but also in the methods of handling fires. The improvement and perfection of our fire-fighting methods and apparatus have well kept pace with other branches of our city governments. So many circumstances enter into an “attic fire” that it is almost impossible to follow any set rule; and, in nearly every case, much depends on the judgment of the commanding officer and the means and men at his disposal. The average “attic fire” in the stereotyped two and a half story hip-roof house is best handled, in our judgment, by throwing streams from both or either end of the building, and as most houses of this class have a window in each end of the attic, the means of access are usually very easy, and unless such fire has gained considerable headway the extinguishment of it should occupy but a short time.
A house and its contents in fires of this kind are usually more damaged by water on the first and second floors than by the actual fire itself, and in no other ordinary fire is quick work so essential to make a good saving. One great help for prompt and effective work is to cut a vent in the roof. This will free the action of smoke, enabling the better and quicker location of the fire, and consequently saving a large water damage to the floors below.
In fighting an “attic fire” through holes in the roof many of the patented pipes that can be operated through a small opening can be used to good advantage, as the stream from the same can be directed in any quarter, and they have proved their value in many cellar, roof and attic fires where it was impossible to reach the seat of fire by the ordinary methods. From our experience with this class of fires, under ordinary conditions, we have made the best saving by venting the fire at highest point possible in roof, thus enabling us to locate the seat of fire and getting the largest possible amount of benefit from the water used. The average attic roof is one of shingles and the most successful way. in our judgment, after the fire has taken a good hold, to quickly put out the fire and prevent its spreading, is to wash it down well from the underside and this can be more readily accomplished by streams thrown from the ends.
♦Report presented at the recent Convention in Montreal of the Nation jciation of Fire Engin
A short time since, the writer had charge of a fire in three frame buildings, covering an area of about fifty feet square. The buildings were all old and dry as tinder. Two of them had the old style hip-roof, while the third one had a flat roof with a space of about three feet between the ceiling of second floor and ralters. This fire was well under way before the alarm was rung in (it being 3:30 A. M.) and, on the arrival of our apparatus, we immediately directed streams through the end attic windows, at the same time cutting holes in the hip roofs to vent the fire and free the attic, as far as possible,from smoke. When this was done, we laid a line of hose through the house to the top of attic stairs and directed a stream from this point. We cut two holes in the flat roof and after cutting several holes in the ceiling below, we directed a stream from the second floor directly on the seat of the fire. In a very short time we had the fire under control and the loss was slight in comparison with the value of the buildings and stock in danger. By freeing the attic of smoke we were enabled to locate the seat of the fire immediately and direct our streams where they did most effective work.
In another fire of incendiary origin, where the fire had been started on the first floor and attic at the same time, we found no trouble in easily controlling the first floor fire as it had been badly planned; but as the attic was stored with inflammable materials it burned fiercely and had eaten its way through one corner of the roof before we had a line laid to play on it. This acted as a chimney to the attic and almost entirely freed it of smoke, enabling us to lay a line of hose to head of attic stairs and direct a stream where it reached the heart of the
(Signed.) EDWIN W. FISKE,
JAMES R. HOPKINS,
J. A. CRAWFORD.
An immense petition was handed to Mayor Pingreeof Detroit, Mich., on Thanksgiving Day for the appointment of D. W. H. Moreland as fire commissioner. There are so many names on it that it would take a longtime tocount them. The mayor has given no indication that he intends to put any one into the position vacated by Commissioner Scotten.
