2 Firms to Demand City Begin Probe of Fence as Aid in Fire

2 FIRMS TO DEMAND CITY BEGIN PROBE OF FENCE AS AID IN FIRE Structure Across Alley Caused Heavier Loss at Factory Blaze, Officials Say GATES FOUND BOLTED Officials of two North Camden industrial plants that were wiped out by fire yesterday morning, announced today they would demand a thorough investigation by the building inspectors and highway department as to why a ten foot fence was allowed to be built across Segal street and a wide alley adjoining their property on Erie street. They claim that if the fence had not been erected Camden firemen would have been able to check the blaze which caused $225,000 damage. Officials who will demand an investigation are Vincent P. Dougherty, vice president of the Allied Metal Stamping Company, whose loss was $75,000, and C. E. Perrin, head of the Philadelphia Metal Stamping Company, who suffered a $50,000 loss in the blaze. "I intended to ask Mayor Price to start a probe that will not end in a whitewash," Dougherty said. "The fences were constructed of heavy planking by the John R. Evans and Company. It is my impression that when the company sought permission to erect these fences they were informed gates must be placed there in case of fire. Gates were installed in the fence leading into the alley but some time ago the gates were bolted and carboys of acids and other chemicals were placed against the fence. Fence Near Fireplug "The fence cutting off Segal street is right against a fire plug and this hampered the firemen in their work. If the firemen had been able to use this plug at once the fire loss would not have been so great." "The erection of these fences was an outrage. I don't know who gave the Evans company permission to build them, but I want to find out why they were allowed to be built," Perrin said. Firemen said they believed the fence contained a gate, but when they arrived at the blaze they found the gates bolted. Fire Chief Nichols said the fence compelled the firemen to lay 900 feet of hose where if they had been able to get through the fence at once they would have been required to lay only 100 feet to reach the blaze. Engineer Defends Action Charles Jones, chief engineer of the Evans plant, said the company was within its rights in constructing the wooden fence as it was built on the Evans property. "We bought property on Segal street about nine years ago," Evans said. Segal street was never a through street and when we bought the property we tore down the buildings and moved the dead end further south. The city, after we made the purchase, removed water and gas mains and if they left a fire plug up against our fence that is the fault of the city. The properties were bought and torn down about nine years ago." Fire Chief Nichols said today had there been a gate on the two fences the fire loss would have been greatly cut down. George W. Johnson, building inspector said the matter had not been brought to his attention as yet.