This Week in Wire History
A New Fire Drill System - December 1951
Madeline Odigie '10
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: News
Do Wheaton Students today have it easier in regards to fire drills? Can you picture yourself using rope to escape a burning building on a cold winter night? In the fall semester of 1925 new fire drill system was installed, where the female residents on 2rd and 3rd floors of dormitories were expected to slide out their window using a rope.
-Madeline Odigie '10
Just as Wheaton buildings grow a little older from year to year; just as the risk from fire becomes a little greater, so in proportion the fire rules must increase in number and in rigidity. This year brings in some changes that are, on the whole, immensely important to everyone and deserve serious attention. Fire-ropes formerly have been unattractive additions to many of the rooms and a source of speculations to nearly everyone. But the ropes will be of some practical value now, since last week every girl on the second or third floor of a wooden dormitory was required to descend from the running track in the gymnasium of the floor under Miss Wallis' and Miss Lammers' supervision. Most of the girls found the trip was either painful or terrifying.
Fire drills this year are being carefully supervised, and the captains are trying especially to secure speed and quiet. Each marshall records the time between the ringing of the bells and the arrival of the girls on her corridor at the place of roll-call. Then the warden and the marshall both report to the dormitory fire captain before the before the two bells proclaiming "lights out" are rung. If the captain finds it necessary, a house-meeting to discuss faults and errors may be called during the alarm drill.
Fire Chief Evaline Kimball has made out new regulations providing that shades shall be rolled to the tops of the windows, and that every girl shall carry a heavy wrap and a towel… The girls in the corridors ordinarily using these stairways will have a chance to show their cool-headedness, and chose another exit quietly and quickly. The experiment of each girl carrying with her one valuable possession may be tried if the ordinary routine of the drill is followed efficiently. Not all the alarms are coming before eleven o'clock this year, but may be expected at any time during the night or morning, even during class hours.
- Wire Correspondent
-Madeline Odigie '10
Just as Wheaton buildings grow a little older from year to year; just as the risk from fire becomes a little greater, so in proportion the fire rules must increase in number and in rigidity. This year brings in some changes that are, on the whole, immensely important to everyone and deserve serious attention. Fire-ropes formerly have been unattractive additions to many of the rooms and a source of speculations to nearly everyone. But the ropes will be of some practical value now, since last week every girl on the second or third floor of a wooden dormitory was required to descend from the running track in the gymnasium of the floor under Miss Wallis' and Miss Lammers' supervision. Most of the girls found the trip was either painful or terrifying.
Fire drills this year are being carefully supervised, and the captains are trying especially to secure speed and quiet. Each marshall records the time between the ringing of the bells and the arrival of the girls on her corridor at the place of roll-call. Then the warden and the marshall both report to the dormitory fire captain before the before the two bells proclaiming "lights out" are rung. If the captain finds it necessary, a house-meeting to discuss faults and errors may be called during the alarm drill.
Fire Chief Evaline Kimball has made out new regulations providing that shades shall be rolled to the tops of the windows, and that every girl shall carry a heavy wrap and a towel… The girls in the corridors ordinarily using these stairways will have a chance to show their cool-headedness, and chose another exit quietly and quickly. The experiment of each girl carrying with her one valuable possession may be tried if the ordinary routine of the drill is followed efficiently. Not all the alarms are coming before eleven o'clock this year, but may be expected at any time during the night or morning, even during class hours.
- Wire Correspondent
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