Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 270, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1913 — FIRE DRILLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS [ARTICLE]

FIRE DRILLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

J. J. Montgomery Conducts Exercise lor Protection of Children in Case ol Tire By recent laws for the protection of life and properly from fires the chiefs of fire departments of cities are made deputy fire marshals and the same law imposes on these deputies the duty of conducting er requiring teachers to conduct monthly fire drills. Fire Chief Montgomery conducted the drills at the primary school house this Wednesday morning and at the intermediate and higlh school buildings this afternoon. The children followed the directions of their teachers explicitly. The following peiiods of time were required to get the pupils out of the buildings and'to places of safety: Primary building, 1 minute and 10 seconds: intermediate building, 52 seconds; high school class rooms, 50 seconds; high school assembly, one minute and twenty seconds. The instructions sent

by W. E. Longley, the state fire marshal, have the endorsement of Charles A. Greathouse, state superintendent of public instruction. The rules are constructed with a view to safely conducting all from the buildings and without confusion. Future drills will be at irregular times, so that the children may undergo just the conditions that might prevail in case of fire. iPupils leave heir hats and wraps when dismissed because of fire. All exits are required to be unlocked and to open outward. The fire escapes must be free from obstruction, ice and snow and sprinkled "with ashes or sand when slick. A special bell with a distinctive sound is required for fire dismissals. It must be rung distinctly. All work must cease at the sound of the fire signal. The boys lead in the march from buildings, as they can move faster and might trample over the girls. Teachers go last, to be sure every person has left the building. Mr. Montgomery was very much pleased at the conduct of all the grades during the dismissal and will give the drills each month in order that all may be familiar with them.