Disney Productions and Burbank Fire Department cooperate to protect sprawling movie facility
LARGE PLANT FIRES continue to be a major concern of the fire service because one such fire can destroy an otherwise good per capita loss record for a community, and almost invariably results in major structural damage and possible loss of life. To prevent or control such fires, a good plant fire safety program is of paramount importance. The program developed by Plant Protection Chief Roy R. Merchant for Walt Disney Productions, Burbank, Calif., is an excellent example. In addition, it shows what can be accomplished when two organizations such as the Burbank Department and Walt Disney Productions cooperate.
About five years ago the Disney company requested the Burbank Fire Department, Chief William J. Taylor, to counsel Chief Merchant on the establishment of definite rules, methods of operation, the inspection of then existing installations, and the supervision of new fire safety installations. As a result, a fire insurance engineer reported a year ago that "Interest in fire safety with supervisory personnel is of the highest order." The inspector pointed out that, while a serious fire is possible in two movie sets because of the combustible construction, otherwise the studio is very adequately protected with automatic sprinklers and strong, reliable water supplies. In fact, 93 per cent of the sprawling plant is sprinklered. Sprinkler heads have been installed in all permanent buildings. The sprinkler system is checked weekly, and pressure readings and operating conditions are recorded in a log. Every 30 days a water flow check is made of the fire, sprinkler and alarm system.
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