1.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1975.
KEEP FIRE EXITS CLEAR
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ONE OF THE MOST VITAL SAFETY FACTORS IN THE EVENT OF FIRE IS A CLEAR MEANS OF ESCAPE AND EVERYONE HAS A DUTY TO ENSURE THAT FIRE ESCAPE EXITS IN BUILDINGS ARE KEPT COMPLETELY FREE FROM OBSTRUCTION, A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED TODAY.
IN HONG KONG, WITH ITS MANY HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS, THIS WAS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT, HE SAID, AS BUILDINGS WITH NO MEANS OF ESCAPE COULD QUICKLY TURN INTO DEATH TRAPS.
+FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY, RESIDENTS MUST MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH FIRE ESCAPES IN THEIR BUILDINGS AND SEE TO IT THAT THESE ARE KEPT CLEAR AND CORRECTLY PROTECTED FROM SMOKE, HEAT AND FIRE,+ HE SAID.
A STANDARD MEANS OF PROTECTION WAS THE SMOKE LOBBY, AND ITS DOORS SHOULD ALWAYS BE PROPERLY CLOSED. THEY CANNOT PERFORM THEIR PROPER FUNCTION IF PARTLY CLOSED.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT EVERYONE HAD A RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING SURE THAT FIRE ESCAPES WERE PROPERLY MAINTAINED. +THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY OR SELFISHNESS HERE AS THE LIFE YOU MAY BE SAVING MAY BE YOUR OWN.+
THE MOMENT AN OBSTRUCTION IS FOUND THIS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE AND IF NO ACTION IS TAKEN REFERRED TO THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU.
+BE OUTSPOKEN TO PEOPLE WHO CREATE MEANS OF ESCAPE PROBLEMS,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED, +REPORT THEM AND BE PREPARED TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN ANY PROCEEDINGS, ENCOURAGE YOUR FELLOW RESIDENTS, COLLEAGUES AND VISITORS TO APPRECIATE THE DANGERS TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WHERE POSSIBLE, STOP FREQUENTING PREMISES WHICH SHOW LITTLE OR NO REGARD FOR YOUR SAFETY.
+THESE ARE SOME OF THE ANSWERS TO A PROBLEM WHICH, DESPITE THE CONTINUOUS WORK OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, IS ALL TOO PREVALENT IN HONG KONG.+
ON SECURITY GATES, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT. FOR FIRE SAFETY REASONS, THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT PERMITTED GATES ON MEANS OF ESCAPE AT GROUND OR ROOF TOP LEVEL ONLY, PROVIDED THE GATES WERE INSTALLED TO SWING OPEN IN THE DIRECTION OF EXIT AND COULD BE EASILY OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WITHOUT USING A KEY OR SIMILAR DEVICE.
IT WAS ALSO NOT ALLOWED TO FIT GATES ACROSS ENTRANCES OF FLATS IN A MANNER THAT THEY COULD IMPEDE MEANS OF ESCAPE. FROM A FIRE SAFETY POINT OF VIEW, THE BEST ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE A SLIDING OR LATTICE GATE WHICH FOLDS..
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