The Great Chicago Fire - Research Paper Example

The Great Chicago Fire Table of Contents 1. Introduction………………………………………………………..3 2. Event History………………………………………………………3 3. Aftermath………………………………………………………….5 4. The Story of Phillip Hildreth Sheridan…………………………..6 5. Building Code………………………………………………………6 6. Non-Conforming Uses and Structures……………………………7 7. Impact on Codes/Processes…………………………………………9 8. Impact on Today’s Codes/Processes……………………………….9 9. Conclusion………………………………………………………......11 10. Outline………………………………………………………………12 11. Works Cited…………………………………………………………13 The Great Chicago fire Introduction It was the drought time when the Great Chicago fire broke out, devouring 57 miles of wood paved streets, 651 miles of wood sidewalks, big wooden wharfs along the river, and vast wooden fencing made to stock animals. Wood was the basic material used in 93% of the city buildings. The fire burned the area constituted by 1 mile wide to 6 miles long but it continued for only 29 hours. Limestone was used afterwards to reconstruct the burned buildings (Arnold, 2005). The night before, the fire department had to grapple a huge fire break-out in the four of the city blocks. On that fateful day of October 8, 1871 the speed of the wind was near to 30 mph. Before the fire department could reach there, the fire had burst out of control (The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, 2011). Event History The Chicago fire reshaped the history of the city. On 7th of October 2011 was the 140th Anniversary of the Chicago Fire (Dries, 2011). The whole of the Chicago city was once again made. It was not the first fire break out in Chicago. Earlier, Chicago had some large fires in the years 1839, 1849, and in 1857. The fire of 1871 was different from the previous fires because the month of October was relatively hotter and dryer than previous months of October. There were only 185 fire fighters in the city at the time of the Chicago fire. Exactly before the fire, firemen had complained of insufficient equipment and human power. Due to the previous day fire wherein four blocks of the city got destroyed, the firemen mentally and physically ready to handle another fire the very next day. A week before the Great Fire, the city had undergone 20 small fires. The Great Fire started on October 8th, 1871 before 10:00 pm (Paul, 2011) It started from a barn in the possession of O’ Leary family living between the De Koven Street and Jefferson Street. Soon after the fire, bad propaganda and lack of technology caused huge problems. The watchman, who saw the fire at first, informed the wrong place to the telegraph dispatcher who did not correct the street name after finding the error. The faulty fire alarm caused further delay in reaching the place of fire by the firemen, as it could not be activated. Firemen were so torn out from the previous day fire they could not jumpstart their job (Paul, 2011) Generally, it is believed that the fire was started when a cow kicked a lantern in the O’ Leary barn. Actually, it started from behind the O’ Leary house. But it is not true because some person by the name of Daniel Sullivan or some people believe that a man named Dennis Regan accidently started the fire. Still, there is no unanimous cause of the fire (Paul, 2011) The people of Chicago in this hour of need got together to work day and night to restructure the whole city. Within a week, 6000 temporary homes were erected for the homeless people. The event of the fire brought together the people of Chicago. People started discussing about improved fire codes, safety measures and quality equipment for the firemen. Roads and streets were laid of concrete in stead of wood. Even the houses construction material was changed to brick-made houses, as it was not easily flammable. The event initiated a number of political and social changes in the perceptions (Paul, 2011). Aftermath After the fire engulfed the city buildings, people left their homes running away from the scene of fire and congregating at the banks of Lake Michigan, viewing from safe distance the burning and leveling to the ground amid smoke of the city’s renowned buildings. The speed of the winds spread the fire onto the west side of the city and ignited the other areas as well. In total, 17,000 buildings got enflamed, causing death of 300 people and nearly 100,000 people had to live without homes. Overall loss was measured to above $200 million. There occurred a rainstorm the very next day, which helped in controlling the fire than the fire department efforts (The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, 2011). The whole city was affected by the fire compelling city leaders to seek federal government help. Six companies of the federal forces were sent in by the president Ulysses S. Grant, headed by the Civil War General Philip Sheridan. The federal government declared Martial aw and the four companies of the forces remained in the city for one year but the martial law was annulled by then (The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, 2011). The city was once again rehabilitated by constructing new and some of the renowned buildings with grant from the federal government and other sources. The Great Chicago fire taught new lessons to the dwellers. Residents belonging to business community who have otherwise denied help came forward to lass the fire department with new fire extinguishing equipment and increase the staff strength of firemen (The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, 2011). The name of Mrs. Catherine O’ Leary was associated for causing fire by the two major newspapers. The story of the cow and the lantern was in full propaganda during the time of the raging fire also although she was vindicated finally from the blame (The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, 2011). The Story of Phillip Hildreth Sheridan A general of the federal forces conceived another idea of controlling the fire. He ordered his soldiers to bring down the structures on the Michigan Avenue. He called the fire marshal to brief his concept but the fire marshal could not see any way to stop the fire by demolishing the structures, as it was not an acknowledged fire-fighting method. By that time the fire had crossed the river. Unfortunately, his method did not succeed and the fire continued expanding towards the north side of Chicago. Finally, it stopped when rain started sparing the South side of the city because the wind was coming in the way of fire not blowing in that direction (Dries, 2011). Thus, the whole city of Chicago got destroyed in the fire because building rules and codes were not adhered to. Poor immigrants were dwelling on a greater area of the city and the rich class was also living in wooden houses. According to a lading newspaper, The Chicago Tribune, there were too many “firetraps,” hinting on the “all sham and shingles” structures of the city (McNamara, 2011). Building Codes There is a national standard code on which most of the local municipalities base their building codes. In the western United States, the common standard code is the Uniform Building Code formulated by the International Council of Building Officials (ICBO). In the upper Midwest and Northeast, a number of area building codes are based on the Building Officials and Code Administrators, International (BOCA) code. In the south, most of the area building codes are modeled on the Southern Standard Building Code, formulated by the Southern Building Code Congress, Inc. (SBCCI). Each of these standard codes fix parameters for building types, possession types, and current and architectural design parameters. Each of the codes also stipulates fire and life security protection needs for both latest and old buildings. As a routine, each of the standard codes is renewed after a period of three years (Urban Concepts, 2011). Each area follows a standard code, besides any local improvisations formulated to fulfill area requirements. The building code is then implemented by the area "Building Official" who is generally the chairperson of the building department within the city administration (Urban Concepts, 2011). Some cities and other regions maintain individual incorporated codes. In Chicago, the building code was first of all formulated after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. The city has preserved its own individual building and electrical codes since that time. Similarly, South Florida follows its individual building code to deal with the specific needs necessitated by designing in regions carrying hurricane risks. Other regions like the Reedy Creek Improvement District which includes all of the Walt Disney Co. buildings near Orlando, Florida, also preserve their own building codes for particular functions (Urban Concepts, 2011). Non-Conforming Uses and Structures Building structures are made to secure safety of the building and people for many years, the zoning code affecting the size of a structure and its usage design tends to accept changes in government policy and growth designs made for that period of time. The changed outcome in the code promotes the making of many old buildings in the urban setting, not agreeing on the newly formulated laws. These are “non confirming” buildings, which do not adhere to laws related to size, design and positioning of the building, as not following the latest needs of the zoning code. Buildings not adhering to code could be any like a six story structure erected in the 1940s when height limitations of the buildings was never an issue. In 1970s the buildings exceeding three stories were not granted permission, therefore the current six story structures become non-confirming (Urban Concepts, 2011). A non conforming use was earlier enforced by law, but the latest zoning ranking of a specific area is not granted any more. For example, if production process is going on in a building under a given area, which slowly changes into commercial activity over time, rezoning of a locality could be necessitated through commercial ranking, not allowing production business, proclaiming the ongoing production use non-conforming (Urban Concepts, 2011). This non-confirming type of the properties is crucial, as most areas put limitations on land use to change their design as per changing needs of the properties to either expand the property or make changes in it. In touchy cases, the local governing bodies can fix an amortization period for non-confirming uses. This period can extend from 10 to 40 years after which that property can be dislocated. Therefore, a structure’s ranking related to confirming or non-confirming is significant element to decide its restructuring if any disaster happens. In some jurisdictions, limitations exist on the repairing of a non-conformist structure. Generally, if a disaster destroys a structure more than 75 percent, it can not be reconstructed in case of a disaster like a fire or tornado. This shows the importance of abiding by the prevailing building code (Urban Concepts, 2011). Impact on Codes Fire codes in the early 1800s included the water mains made from drilled pine logs. Later in 1854, the horse-drawn steam powered fire engines were used to throw water 300 meters far. In 1870, heightened aerial ladders were developed in San Francisco, followed by developing a mechanically operated aerial ladder in 1882, which culminated in the 100-foot ladder truck used in mid-1930s. Fire engines started using gasoline by replacing steam engines in the early 1920s. Safety nets were discontinued in the 1930s by the fire departments, as they could not be used beyond 3 stories (Arnold, 2005). Impact on Today’s Codes Later building code changes occurred to provide fire escape routes by fixing of standpipes for high rises and provisioning of exit routes from the conferencing areas. Fire features underwent a change after WWII because of synthetic materials, which emitted out dark toxic fumes, as cotton and wood furnishings were not used, which burned quicker but with reduced smoke. Inventory of hazardous materials added to the possibility of risky conditions, the increasing shortage of wood prompted increased use of concrete, steel, glass and masonry for building materials. Changes were also perceived in outlook regarding the use of better methods of saving people rather than just securing property (Arnold, 2005). There was common practice of spraying river or sea water on factories and dockside warehouses in the 1880s. First home sprinkler system was used in 1953 making use of domestic water. Concurrent processes off late include alarm circulars, sprinkler fittings, use of fire-resistant frames, division of building with fire-resistive materials, tested emergency exiting, emergency connectivity, automatic finding of heat, flame and smoke including ionization, infrared, photo-electric, optical, ultraviolet, suction, spark/ember, video, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, combination and particle beam detectors, automatic fire control systems, pressurized and fireproofed exit stairs, fixing of standpipes and hose racks, smoke control; automatic elevator recall; posters on elevators and stairs, usage of flame and smoke-resistant interior furnishing materials; separation and distinct stocking of hazardous products, and induction of shelter rooms. Present structure and fire codes stress on developing frameworks and ignore building substances and internal materials (Arnold, 2005). Process of controlling smoke has undergone change; the new smoke control system started working by depleting the zone of incidence and pressurizing the nearby zones such as was initiated first of all in the Seattle Federal Office Building in 1972. Before that the practice was to shut down the supply to fans in case of fire. Process of stairwell pressurizing started in the mid1970s by changing the angle of rotation in the opposite side. Latest smoke control systems employ committed smoke depleting fans or two-sided normal supply fans in addition to many detectors and dampers. Stairwell pressurization is very crucial for the safe exit of the dwellers from the property caught in fire sparing time for the fire-fighters to securely divert efforts on upper level fire (Arnold, 2005). The latest zoned smoke control in buildings is purposed to create a pressure sandwich by depleting the field of the fire to limit smoke to the fire affected space only. Smoke is a big cause (90%) of injuries to the firefighters. Such smoke control systems permit smoke free stairs in multi-storey buildings. Stairwells of high rise buildings remain smoke-free while large low-rise properties ensure safer exit of inhabitants with sophisticated smoke control systems. For example, in Las Vegas, dwellings above by 55 feet from the fire department vehicles are equipped with smoke control systems (Arnold, 2005). Conclusion However, sophisticated smoke control systems might be but they are not always effective due to opened doors, extra wall, and floor or roof entrances, which are not securely closed. Due to changes in the interiors of a building fuel or smoke emitting increases; this is beyond the capacity of the smoke controls. One reason of the inefficient working of the fire protection systems is the complexity of their functioning, which needs to be reduced for better and effective use. Some times peoples’ ignorance causes disability of the fire protection systems. Only regular checking can guarantee the functioning of sophisticated fire protection systems. In Las Vegas, at the time of rush, the fire alarm systems installed in the hallway are disabled on Saturday nights. People take fire alarms casually because of more often ringing of false alarms. This problem can be resolved by informing the dwellers about a fire through the public address system (Arnold, 2005). Outline Thesis Statement: Code failure causing major fire disturbances due to construction flaws. 1. The Situation: Wood was the primary cause of fire in Chicago as 93% of the buildings were made of wood in the Great Chicago fire of 1871. 2. The event history shows the random cause of fire was the hot climate and building construction material that added fuel to the fire. 3. It was not the kicking of lantern by some cow of O’ Leary family but not adherence to fire code by all sections of society depending on wooden material for constructing properties. That error of the code was the cause. 4. The Great Fire of Chicago in its aftermath engulfed the whole city. 5. Once again, people and the government of the time learning a lesson from the past mistakes restructured the city with concrete in stead of wood. 6. A discussion on the building codes followed these days and at the time of 1871 affecting adherence to codes. 7. Importance of abiding by the stipulated fire safety codes in today’s buildings. Works Cited Arnold, Jim. (2005, April 7). Large building fires and subsequent code changes. Department of Development Services. Retrieved from http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/Member%20Sections/AEBOcodechanges.pdf Kate Dries, Kate. (2011, Oct. 07). What you probably didn't know about the Great Chicago Fire. [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.wbez.org/blog/onstagebackstage/2011-10-07/what-you-probably-didnt-know-about-great-chicago-fire-92890 McNamara, Robert. (2011). The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 essentially destroyed the entire city. About.com Guide. Retrieved from http://history1800s.about.com/od/urbanconditions/a/chicagofire.htm The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 (2011). Retrieved from http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/greatchicagofire18711.htm Urban Concepts. (2011). Zoning FAQ Urban Concepts. Retrieved from http://www.urban-concepts.com/faq/index.html Read More