European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 10, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 letters the stars and stripes the danger prevention of fires discussed Welt it s finally happened something 1 feared nearly every Day of the seven months i lived in temporary Mili tary housing on the fourth door. We had our third fir in six months in out Small Community of about 14 housing buildings.". The first fire started late at night 10 30, inside a bed room closet and was caused by a Small child pitying with a lighter. It destroyed most of the apartment with a lot or help from the Walcer hoses 1 imagine the family lost just about everything except their lives. Thank god this fire was on the first floor the second fire jus a feta months later started in the Kitchen again at 10 30 p.m., from unattended grease onto of a Burner that had been left on. A father and son were sleeping and were aroused by an upstairs neighbor banging on the door. The father jumped out of the first floor apartment grabbed a Hose and sprayed at the tire unlit help arrived. If he had t acted so quickly the whole apartment adjoining apartment and lives could have been lost. This fire caused minor injuries to the . I now a temporary apartment on the fourth floor caught fire. I Don t know now it started or whether there were injuries facts with surface Over the Nam few weeks. The reason for this idler is to question three very important issues. "-.-. " All of our apartments arc equipped with smoke Detec tors that arc mounted away from the Kitchen area in our hallway near the bedrooms. True this is very effective for the ear since it s � close but How much smoke is needed to activate it ,.-, our Halls have doors to separate the sleeping and living areas. Our kitchens also have doors. 1 close my doors Al night because of my children. We have an important Rule that no child is allowed in the living area without mama or daddy if they Wake up earlier except in an emerged. C i "-. -. �. If a fire starts in he Kitchen behind a closed door and is Well on the Way to engulfing the whole area the smoke would already be very thick i think if a smoke Detector is placed in the living room As Welt we might be aroused sooner another problem is in our stain Ells. From the. Base. Mcnol fourth floor we have one smote Detector and it s on the fourth floor i understand that heal and smoke Rise. Out. I f a fire starts on the Bottom floor it could Bewell out of control and the smoke would be so Dens before the residences on the top floors Are even alerted. Which brings me to the last question. Why Don t. We have tire escapes1.1,v a Vall the military Barracks on Post sport fire escapes their equally. As tall As the housing build Ings yes 1 know there Are Many children Here and fire escapes could be potentially dangerous by attracting in a Mcd attention. As i stood there looking up to the Temps on fire 1really Felt for that family. Sure we All have our escape routes via the stairwell which is posted on the first floor \v1ut other escape route is Uherc for. The lop floors we Don t have much of a Choice sine most of our windows also have safety guardrails mounted outside to prevent oils. We re living in firc traps apartments rearranged and renovated who knows How Ninny la Matji with Only one " ". Let s i reve it loss of life. Every level should have a fire smoke Detector in the Mai Well. As. Well As another inside each apartment and fire escapes for the top two floors. Name withheld bad kissing in West Germany editor s note -. We received two replies in this Tetter. The first is from a. William e. Fields sub com to Unity Comimo Urr Iliili Kkt Minuen the writer of this Teller is Correct in expecting the Sii Fiatt possible living environment for All families residing in government quarters. The Schwent Furt military Community is pleased to respond to your letter and offer some important facts about the regulations that govern the construction of family housing units. As custodian of the family quarters the directorate of engineering mid housing is responsible to ensure the quarters have met All fire regulation codes. As slated in your Tetter during the put two years the Schweinfurt military Community has experienced four major fires and numerous Small fires in government con trolled housing. According to tar records the bad kiss ingest Community experienced two major fires within a six month period. A few facts both tires were caused by the carelessness of . Due in part to the fire resistant construction of government bindings the fire were contained to thai single apartment where the in began. The fact that both fire were started when the occupants were at Home has been raised at town Hall meetings and addressed by commanders. Statistics Bear nut that these two plus the majority of other fires orate have been. Prevented. .-.,. Some of the most common causes a children Fuy. Ing with matches careless smoking habits and food left cooking unattended. The bad kissing in fires were indeed caused in these ways a. Many occupants of family housing have expressed their fears and anxieties about not Haring Access to exterior tire escapes. To help alleviate Thi so anxieties please consider inc following information about the Overall construction of family housing units in Europe. Vall Standard multistory family housing units Are constructed in a fire resistant nature. The floor and hulls reconstructed of masonry materials designed to prevent a fire from extending upward or horizontally from one apart ment to another. The door leading out la the stairwell is designed to contain a fire for a period of 20 minutes. The local fire department is highly trained and has a reaction Lime of 10 minutes. Through periodic tests this fact has been proven Over and Oicer for the bad Rissir Tgcy area it should also be noted that High reach vehicles ladder trucks Are available to the Daley housing urea that can reach any floor of a Eov Emmonl owned family housing unit. This coupled with the double dangers of safety and Security dial go along with fire escape ladders is Oliy the ladders Are not attached to our housing units. J this brings us to another important fact Many occur giants do not believe the degree of fire precautions that Are built into family housing unit i and Punk when a fire occurs. When a fire Breaks out heat smoke and loud gases Rise above the fire. These elements Are the prime danger and canst of death. Each occupant should have a pre planned talked about and practice Home fire escape plan. Most important keep Calm and do not panic smoke detectors arc one of the most important tools. Used in the pm Ilion of Deal Lis due in fires. The smoke detectors Thill Are used by the government Are live to smoke. For example cigarette smoke can set the alarm off. The most critical Factor of any alarm system is inc location of inc selecting device. The major threat from fire in a family living unit is at night when everyone is asleep. This is the reason thai smoke detectors Urr placed. Between the bedrooms. Also inc sensitivity of the unit prevents it from being located too close to the Kitchen Here cooking smoke could comr tartly St of the device. The provision of government procured fire extinguish its for Amity housing is another concern for occupants. Current Roku Matury guidelines Usa Keur supplement Ito a 410-90 prohibit the provision for pro curl fire extinguishers for family quarters if located where motor died fire department Protection n available. In the 1950s, fire extinguishers were in family housing unite but nere removed due to misuse and the unreliability of the extinguisher. We share your concern and urge All occupants to Contact their loot fire marshal for a Booklet that contain additional information on safely and fire Hazard. Forc prevention is everyone s business. The second reply is from / run a Datis. Chief usar Kur fit Froid Tlynn. Office of Lulf Deputy Cuttit a ,Tlqustrkuk your questions concerning smoke detectors indicate you have Given considerable though to these important devices. The family housing smoke detectors Are intentionally placed away from the Kitchen area so that Ordinary cooking fumes do not unnecessarily cause he alarm to sound. As you have reasoned they Are placed new the bedrooms so you can hear the alarm when asleep. Thesis also the strategic location in detect smoke from any source before in reaches the bedrooms. You ask i Low much smoke to needed to activate in Detector the technical specification ot.4 percent per foot obscuration Means in will detect smoke Long before it is so thick that a person could not see your related question concerning closed doors is Cood one and Rives me the Opportunity to revise old advice you May have heard. Before the Days of smoke detectors people were advised by firemen to close the bedroom retiring fur the Niche j Suu est you lest your smoke Detector Tor audibility and if you have any doubt you can nut hear it with the bedroom done closed it would be better to cure the door open. A properly operating Delector Don t Forkel a lest i monthly Ivill give you plenty of time to either evacuate the apartment or. If necessary. " close doors and Rescue i y the tire department ,. I want to a pm Phasic the escape plan you should have in cast of a fire in your apartment or building you should first account for All family men live an leave the building tamed lately closing the apartment door behind Jira. Warn other occur Points and an soon an is simile Call the fire department. From family hous ing you must use the Bun Esposi Telephone to either Call the military Fin alarm control Center or dial 112and speak to the German fire department. the difficulty of this we Hare obtained an emergency Bunde Spost number that will connect directly Tel the military fire control Center without ten let Piliro Riih the till Hilary prefix number you will be advised of i his number by your fire department As soon As tin1 Nec Essary connections Are made in each respective com-nmnily./or1 if Ceil thru Kohlhe not Poss tilt. Clove your doors and wait for tire department assistance. Do nil Junta from windows flip masonry1 resist the spread of Eire and smoke i you keep the door closed Ami a Mel Towel is place at the do Sill fire escapes lire not the answer because there really is no critical need for them. The Standard Mil Lisbury fume by buildings constructed by the Federal Republic of Germany for use by the . Army arc office resistant construction except the roof which is heavy to filter. Walls arc in awry and floors Are of Concrete Visith a fire rvs Sluice not Iii of 911 my nuts. " 1. -.-,. A belter solution is to improve he safety of through Buller ventilation and As Jug Sug Gest extend the fire Detector coverage. I his we arc doing As part of attic conversions ,. Repair and improvement Mutl projects r finally i would like to enlist your Active support in fire prevention Affons. People like yourself who Are concerned Baul fire safety am Are aware of fires occurring in their housing urea could do Well to Organ i a program to Nike others aware of the Coj immunity fire it Pari Nicot null be glad to Paris Ciliate in neighbourhood meetings or Oiler pro Grams letter has beef about food cafes serves you can he inc system. Cafes a Corm to feel its Consumers Don t Carrot All about what they eat. Their Duck the Issue response to try to peas us Jum does t Cut the in a col. Charlie White s recent response he defines the word nutritional As the assimilation of food to pro Mote growth. That puts a Burger King whopper with Che Wand its 35 Grams offal its cholesterol High sodium and High calories on the list of healthy food items. What new health food items will cafes turnip Ocul la. Col. While continues his reply by noting a number of health products earned by cafes food outlets. The list begins Wuh Low caloric soft drinks. How nutritional is a Low calorie soft drink butter Wise up a arcs. Putting a Burger King in a Community May mean More funds for local communities. But Pear ing Down All a Community s Cit aural facilities to Only fast food is a serious detriment to the families and Young soldiers who Are looking for an alternative. Where can we find fresh fruits assorted fruit juices Low fat yogurts whole Grain breads and cereals homemade soups and Sandwich pcs salads Low caloric dressings Andlor fat Coffee creams on your menu granted Many of these items can be purchased at your food outlets but a by Ain t we find them Nhun we want to eat out lettuce know cafes How you plan to meal to provide Cal Why Lood items on your menus for our families and Young soldiers. I believe Olive longer if i cat at Home fed up Reader Augsburg West Germany editor s no1e la col. Charlyn White Public affairs officer j in cafes Europe replies of time out. Vidu win j i beef me fair and Square. Let s just fit straight to the meat of the Issue. Cafes is not the primary food feeding establishment. The primary food establishment for the military. Is the dining mess Hall. Cafes dining restaurants arc an alter native to the mess Hall we Are trying to provide that Little touch of Home to the military Oversea. Regardless a number of Owr outlets do offer nutrition products. The availability of these items varies depending on the Type of food service being offered. The Type of food service offered depend on customer demand. Restaurants Are placed in communities based on the command s needs and Are intended to cover All people single soldiers and families. Let your local management both cafes end your command know what you want the Augsburg Exchange manager is Tannin i Cor. Give him a Call it civilian 0821 526351, in the meantime eat at Home. ,
