The Placer herald., 1855-12-15
Hints about Avoiding Fires.

ILLUS dUOuI AVOluluS ElT6S.
Very many large fires, as well as many Sc
we're burns, may be avoided by understanding
that air is necessary to produce combustion,
and that the exclusion Of air is as etfectuaI
as the application Of water. Indeed, in ex-
tinguishng fires, water chiefly acts by shut
ting out air, and any other means of shutting
out the air is just as efiectual. We have
shown this frequently in lectures on heat, by
pouring upon the table quantity Of spirits
of turpentne, alcohol. or ether. and when
set on. fire so as to produce a large flame, we
have instantly extinguished it by quickly
spreading over it a sill, handkerchief or
piece OF paper, which for the instant shut
out the air.
\ week or two since, young lady in Dan
bury, Conn, upset q camphene lamp, the con-
tents Of which spread over her dress and en-
veloped her in flames but she seized ban-
ket from bed, and Immediately wrapped it
close around her and thus smothere1 the
fire (shut out the airy, and escaped without
injury. Five years since, we were transfer
ring from one vessel to another two gallons
of mixed sulphuric ether and chloroform.
both very infamable substances, which burnt
with a great tlane-vhcn a person in the
room carelessy brought lighted lamp near
and set the whole on fire. We instantly
snatched tabIe-spread from the table near
by, and with it covered the flame and eX-
tinguished it. We sacrificed the dishes and
food upon the table, but saved the house,
perhaps the block of buildings and perhaps
our lives, as moments delay would have
enveloped the whole room in flames.
Two years since, a servant girl, contrary
to oft repeated and positive directions, under
took to fill a fluid lamp while burning, and
rs was certain to lie the case, the can of liq-
ud took fire (not "exploded'), and was drop
ped upon the floor, setting her under gar
ments on fire. She ran for the door. but
another domestic happened to catch hold of
her outer clothes in such a way as to draw
them closely around her, and thus unwiting-
" smothered the flame, while a member of
the family extnguished the burning lamp,
can, and fluid upon the floor by spreading an
ironing cloth over it.
Some dozen years since, one of the boys
of our farm was at work in the horse and
carriage barn before light, one winter morn
ing When called to breakfast he left the
lantern where it was knocked down by one
OF the horses, and large mass of straw for
bedding was set on fire. When discovered.
the whole mass-four or five feet in diane
ter-was in flame that nearly reached to
the hay hanging down from a NOW above,
containing several tons. In this case, a
horse blanket was at once thrown upon the
centre of the flame, and others quickly ad-
dcd and the fire eXtinguished without dam
age, although large volumes of smoke poured
from the doors and other openings, and al
most prevented any one from entering.
We have known of instances of rooms
being found on fire, where by closing them
up, the fire has been confined and kept in a
smothered state until sufficient help, with
abundance of water, could be produced to at
once eXtnguish the flames. In a great num-
Der Of instances, extensive contlagratons
could have been avoided, had the fire been
kept where it originated till sufficient aid ar
rived. This could have been done by simply
closing up doors and windows, instead OF
throwing them all wide open, as is usually
the case.
We have thus given few instances, and
we might add many others, where serious
injury has been ayerted by applying SINH
lar preventive, that of shutting out the free
access of air, which is necessary to feed the
flame Let every person fix it in theirmnde
and IN the minds OF every member of their
families, old and young, that other means
than water may be used to smother fire. Do
not teach this by precepts only, for in the
excitement Of a fire mere precepts will be
forgotten, but let few experiments be made
before the family, to illustrate the principle.
For example. pour upon the hearth-or
better upon flat stone or board out of doors
"a quantity of alcohol, turpentine, burning
fluid, oil, ether, or other infamable- substan-
ces, set it on fire. and then extngusih it with
newspaper, and repeat the experiment with
handkerchief an apron, cloak a dress, a
table cloth, bed quilt, DC.
The experiment may be varied by smear
ing an upright block, barrel, or post with
oil, alcohol, or otherwise, and when on fire,
extinguish it with cloth or old garment.
Some simple experiments like these always
are interesting; they develop thought, and
prepare one for acting coolly and etfectually
in an emergency. They are drilling and
maneuvering soldiers to a battle.
1uogr;,.<,3 1or;r,,