Fire Readiness Deficiencies Noted Before The Fire
Despite being billed as "Absolutely Fireproof" in advertisements and playbills, numerous deficiencies in fire readiness were apparent:
- An editor of Fireproof Magazine had toured the building during construction and had noted "the absence of an intake, or stage draft shaft; the exposed reinforcement of the (proscenium) arch; the presence of wood trim on everything and the inadequate provision of exits."
- A Chicago Fire Department captain who made an unofficial tour of the theatre days before the official opening noted that there were no extinguishers, sprinklers, alarms, telephones, or water connections; the only firefighting equipment available were six canisters of a dry chemical called "Kilfyre", which was normally used to douse chimney fires in residential houses. The captain pointed out the deficiencies to the theatre's fire warden but was told that nothing could be done, as the fire warden would simply be dismissed if he brought the matter up with the syndicate of owners. When the captain reported the matter to his commanding officer, he was again told that nothing could be done, as the theatre already had a fire warden.
Read more about this topic: Iroquois Theatre Fire
Famous quotes containing the words fire, readiness and/or noted:
“Tell a man whose house is on fire to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hands of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; but urge me not to use moderation in a case like the present.”
—William Lloyd Garrison (1805–1879)
“Poetry is a search for ways of communication; it must be conducted with openness, flexibility, and a constant readiness to listen.”
—Fleur Adcock (b. 1934)
“She noted that marriage is a very serious thing. I answered that no, it is not.... She just wanted to know if I would have accepted the same proposal from another woman with whom I would have had a relationship like ours. I said, “Of course”.”
—Albert Camus (1913–1960)