Tae two recent fires amongst the Chinese houses in the Settlement, show how much more stringent regulations are needed to arrest the progress of a conflagration which has once gained head-way, The unusual dryness of the weather rendered the wooden houses an easy prey, when once the first block had caught, while the unfortunate want of water in the quarter of the Settlement where the later fire took place, compelled resort to the more destructive method of stopping the flames by pulling down those buildings which were likely to carry them on. It was entirely owing to these measures that the fire, east and west, in the Fuhkien Road was eventually prevented from becoming one of the most serious, if not the most serious, calamities which has befallen the Settlement since its formation.
Both fires threw light on one curious point. With little or no wind, and with no actual contact of flame or sparks, the wooden buildings at the opposite sides of the Maloo and the Fuhkien Roads became ignited. The Chinese occupiers in the former were able to overcome the flames; but in the latter case, it seemed almost inevitable that the fire would spread into the crowded district lying east of the Fuhkien Road. The fire extinguishers used by the Municipal Police were however punctually at hand; and it was curious to observe the men standing in the street between the two fires, able with those small instruments to keep down the progress of the flames in the already charred.and burning fronts. At the Taiwan Road, the exertions of the Brigade were not so forttinate, and the flames, having taken hold of the houses at the opposite side, one block, containing property of considerable value, was destroyed. In dry weather such as we have been having lately, the experience of the Inst two fires goes to prove that the intervention of a street lined with wooden houses is of comparatively little effect in stopping the course of a fire. The streets allow means of access; and of course, with a good supply of water, it would be impossible for any fire to cross a street 30 feet wide. But there is not a good supply of water, though we are glad to see that projects for such a supply are beginning to assume a practical shape.
In the meanwhile, however, much can be done. Although streets, lined with wooden houses, can' as we have stated above, be overleaped by a fire such as that of Tuesday night, a fire in Chinese buildings seldom penetrates through even the slightest brick and plaster wall, Ib causes: very little additional expense, in building, to divide rows of Chinese houses by these walls. At present, though these so-called firewalls are made use of to a large extent in the rows of houses facing the roads, they seldom or never penetrate the cook-houses and sheds at the back, which thus are able to carry on the flame and outflank the wall, The backs of the cook-houses themselves are seldom protected by brick walls, and hence fire is conveyed from one block to another.. Were the Ratepayers to insist on proper firewalls, entirely surrounding the bluck it is intended to protect, being erected ata distance not exceeding, say, five houses apart, risk of the fire spreading be. yond these limits would be almost taken away. In new foreign-owned, properties, such precautions are usually taken, as experience has shown the various fire insurance companies the advisability of enquiring into these particulars, The fire at the Fuhkien Road originated in a block of Chinese-owned houses, and spread along what, before the occupation: of the settlements by Foreigners, had: been a considerable village. To the present day, this quarter of the Settlement has remained in a most unsatisfactory condition. The Chinese have shown not the slightest disposition to improve their properties, and have evinced a curious unwillingness to sell out, even when tempted by the fancy prices sometimes offered in moments of inflation by foreign investors. Pressure has scarcely yet been brought to bear in the way of opening up roads, and the consequence was that, even after the engines had been got to play, the narrow and tortuous lanes hindered their action. We hope that the Council will take the opportunity afforded by the fire of Tuesday night, to effect some improvements in a district which has proved itself to be a standing danger in the Settlement.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.