The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-07-03
Our @lio.
Prevention of Fires.

Prevention of Fires.
An old insurance company has issued
the following suggestions for the preven-
ton Of fires. We commend them to our
readers
DEFECTIVE FLUEs.-All chimneys and
fiues should be built of good, sound brick,
with double walls, if possible; be started
from solid foundation, and when COM
pleted be allowed to settle firmly before
being enclosed within wooden structure.
Where this important point is overlooked,
the mass of the chimney stack will settle
and draw away from that part supported
by the roof timbers, and thus leave dan
gerous opening at an unfrequented spot.
All classes of chimneys and fues should
have each course of brick well and evenly
bedded in good mortar, and each joint as
carefully pointed inside of the fue as if
the work was being done on pressed brick
front This class of finish is better and
safer than the usual method of plastering
the inside of fue, as under the influence
of the changes from heat to cold the pias-
ter is liable to drop off and carry with it a
shareof the mortar, thus leaving weak spot.
Ffues not built from the ground should
rest on good timber supports, and have not
less than six courses of solid brick work at
the base, well bedded and cross-tied in
good mortar. Flues built in attics or on
joists, with stove-pipe entering them verti-
cally, are very dangerous. All tlmbers
and woodwork exposed to chimneys and
Aues should be framed around them, leav-
ing two-inch air space.
MATCHEs.-The careless use of matches
is of such general occurrence that frequent
caution as to the danger from such cause
cannot come amiss, however often reiter
ated. Metal receptacles should be used
for both burned and unburned matches,
and care should be taken to keep them out
of the reach of children and mice. In the
hands Of children they are dangerous from
the ignorance and inexperience of the
users, while with mice they seem to form
dainty addition to their regular diet, and
are frequently found imbedded in their
nests, with the phosphorous eaten from the
ends. The disuse of the so-called ''parlor
match" dangerous article, and the more
general use of safety matches, such as can
be igpited only on boxes prepared for the
purpose, should be encouraged on all fitting
occasions.
EXPLOSIONS OF LAMPS AND LAMP Ac-
oIDENTs.-The majority of lamp explo-
sions occur from the use Of low grade oils,
which contain considerable quantity Of
naphtha,or gasolene, and under the heat
generated by the fame in the wick tube,
highly explosive gas is evolved, which,
filling the space not occupied by the oil in
the font, is liable to find its way to the
flame, and upon ignition, cause an explo-
sion. In case no means of exit presents
itself, this gas, being subjected to continu-
GUS heating, may expand sufficiently to
rupture the font itself, and on coming in
contact with the fame, ignite with explo-
sive rapidity.
This tendency to generate gas is greatly
facilitated through the usual practice of
turning low the fame of lamp, resulting
in an unusual heating of the metal dome
over the wick, as well as its metallic con-
nections, thus creating an excess of heat
and more rapid volatilization of the oil,
which engenders tendency to explosion,
even with the use of high grade oils. 1t
should be borne in mind that, while the oil
is low in the lamp, the process of capillary
attraction through the wick is retarded,
and as result, the heated wick tube acts
more rapidly in developing the gas-hence
it is always unsafe to use lamp when the
oil is low in it.
Filling and trimming lamps by the aid
of artificial light, or filling them while
lighted, is extremely dangerous, not to say
foolhardy, as is also the practice of extin-
gushing the fame by blowing down the
chimney.
SPONTANEOUS Nearly
all animal and vegetable oils, in combina
nation with animal or vegetable fibre, will
ignite spontaneously under favorable con-
ditions, as will also lamp-black, charcoal
and some kinds of bituminous coal. 1t
will thus be seen that where oils are used
the danger of fire is imminent, and the
only safeguard is to at once burn all oily,
greasy or paint rags, waste, sawdust, ETC.,
when no longer needed for use. They
should be kept in metal receptacles, and
removed from the building every day, and
never be left on floors, under benches, etc.,
over night. Painters overalls should be
hung up in such position as to permit
free circulation of air about them, as they
are liable to ignite spontaneously if allowed
to lie in heaps on the floors or benches.
Mineral or earth oils have not as yet de-
veloped this quality of spontaneous COM
bustion, but due sense of caution would
suggest that they be treated with the same
rigid care SO essential to safety with oils
known to possess this quality of self-igni-
ton.
STOVES AND STovEPIPEs.-An wood
work or lath and plaster partitions within
IS inches of stoves, or within 10 inches of
stovepipes, should be protected with metal
(tin or galvanized iron preferredl, with an
air space of one-half inch between the
metal and the surface tp be protected.
Good brick platforms or sheets Of metal
should be used to protect the floor under
each stove. All stovepipes should be so
erected that each joint will overlap toward
the stove, be firmly yiveted and well sup
ported, frequently inspected and cleaned.
Where stoyepipes are exposed to moisture
they corrode rapidly, and seemingly sound
pipe is frequently found to be but shell,
upon the application of pressure from the
fingers.
Where stovepipes pass through floors or
partitions they should be provided with a
double metal collar or tube, with an inch air
space between the plates, and be long
enough to reach through the floor or par
tition, with fanges for support having
numerous perforations communicating with
the air space to admit of the escape of the
heat. Stovepipes passing into or through
atticks, or other unfrequented places, should
be very often and carefully looked after.
ASHES should always be kept in metal
receptacles, never in wood, nor should they
be allowed to accumulate in cellars, areas,