Ask Chicagoist: Flammable Fire Escapes?

By Thales Exoo in Miscellaneous on Feb 28, 2007 3:30PM

Why are almost all of the fire escape stairways in Chicago — hey, look at that cute cow! — made of WOOD?

Are they? Are you talking about the wooden porches on the backs of many apartment buildings in the city? We wouldn't call those fire escapes so much as rear entrances (with or without the actual porch included). Sure, we get what you're saying — wood is a bit on the flammable side, Chicago has something of a history of not having the best of luck with fire, and how safe are we going to feel "escaping" onto a wooden structure if our apartment is engulfed in flames? The irony is not lost on us; we just don't think those are actually official fire escapes. However, fire escapes (metal ones, even) are all over the backs of taller buildings.

In fact, Chicago Municipal Code 13-160-640 even states that fire escapes must be "constructed entirely of noncombustible materials," and even metal ones must "be adequately protected against corrosion and shall be scraped and painted at least once every three years." Fire escapes aren't really the emergency exit of choice anymore for buildings, anyway. Turns out Chicago Municipal Code also states that fire escapes are not even allowed anymore, except on buildings that already have them, or on new construction where there's just no possible alternate city-sanctioned fire exits.

The wooden porches so prevalent in Chicago are not so much a fire hazard or even a fire escape; they are a tradition. Still, your worries aren't completely unfounded as certain porches can be "constructed of combustible materials," according to Chicago Municipal Code 15-8-320, so you probably don't want to confuse the place you keep your dying potted plants as being fire escapes.

A New York Times article quoted Tim Samuelson, cultural historian, as saying porches are "distinctly Chicago ... there is a whole alley streetscape here, with row upon row of porches and crisscrossing wood stairways." So, we have the space for them, as opposed to New York City's alley-less streets. In fact, back in 2003 after the disastrous porch collapse incident in Lincoln Park, architect Stanley Tigerman said that "Chicago has thousands of wooden back porches that were first built in the early 1900s. ... The way the city was laid out left room for alleys, he said, and the extra space made the porches possible." He also said that New York City, which doesn't have alleys, primarily has room for steel fire escapes.

Samuelson also pointed out that the "porches were meant to be a second exit for safety purposes, a service entrance, and a simple route to lug garbage to the alley. In the rain, people hung clothes from lines strung across them. Workers delivered ice through porch panels."

You've probably also noticed, especially in older buildings, that the back stairwells are painted gray. Nowadays you're probably more apt to see porches in their natural wood color or with a basic stain, but the gray color is still known as "porch paint."

Either way, if the building's on fire, we suggest getting out as quickly as possible, even if you're stuck walking down a wooden back porch as opposed to a metal fire escape.

Image via paul goyette.

Feeling flammable? Need some advice? Email ask(at)chicagoist(dot)com.