THE LATERAL SPREAD OF HEAT AT A FIRE.

THE LATERAL SPREAD OF HEAT AT A FIRE.

In the report of Inspector McDevitt on the recent large fire in Philadelphia, he says that "some idea could be formed at this fire of the possibility of, and danger from a lateral spread of heat, which in this case extended to points nearly 200 feet away. This is more likely to occur in a wide, than in a narrow street, as with the latter the inward current is so swift that the head is carried rapidly upwards. In noting the damage done to the city hall, it may be well to state that there arc, perhaps, very few who have considered the danger to which the public buildings are exposed from their surroundings. On several sides of the structure there are points where it is possible for a fire to assume such headway and magnitude as that experienced in the recent fire, and from which the heat given off might leave the exposed side of the hall a crumbling mass of marble. A slight illustration of this possible result was seen during this fire by the destruction of the glass in the windows of the hall from heat generated 200 feet away, although the wind was blowing in the opposite direction. It would, therefore, seem as if some precautionary measures ought to be taken by the authorities to meet this possible danger, which at certain points is capable of doing even greater damage than that just experienced.”

In the report of Inspector McDevitt on the recent large fire in Philadelphia, he says that "some idea could be formed at this fire of the possibility of, and danger from a lateral spread of heat, which in this case extended to points nearly 200 feet away. This is more likely to occur in a wide, than in a narrow street, as with the latter the inward current is so swift that the head is carried rapidly upwards. In noting the damage done to the city hall, it may be well to state that there arc, perhaps, very few who have considered the danger to which the public buildings are exposed from their surroundings. On several sides of the structure there are points where it is possible for a fire to assume such headway and magnitude as that experienced in the recent fire, and from which the heat given off might leave the exposed side of the hall a crumbling mass of marble. A slight illustration of this possible result was seen during this fire by the destruction of the glass in the windows of the hall from heat generated 200 feet away, although the wind was blowing in the opposite direction. It would, therefore, seem as if some precautionary measures ought to be taken by the authorities to meet this possible danger, which at certain points is capable of doing even greater damage than that just experienced.”