The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-04-26
MINNESOTA NEWS.
Matters Pertaining to the State
Fire Wardens.
a circular Explaining the Laws and the
Duties of the Wardens. The State
Desires Special Observance.
STATE OF MINNESOTA, Office of
Chief Fire Warden st. Paul, Mimi,


STATE OF MINNESOTA, Office of
Chief Fire Warden st. Paul, Mimi,
April, %, 1899.
To Fire Wardens:
we are entering upon the fifth year
OF the Fire Warden Law, and each
year should show improvement in it's
administration. warning placards''
Will not be sent to Fire Wardens this
year, unless actually needed and called
for; in which case they will be fur
nlshed. The great object of the Fire
Warden Law is to prevent the care
less setting of forest and prairie fires.
The law assumes that town Supervis-
ors are in position best to attend to
this. They pass through their towns
on public business, they know who is
most likely to be careless, and they
have the authority, influence and OPP
portunlty for warning careless persons
better than most anyone else. 1t was
because of this that they are consti-
tuted Fire Wardens. They must an
tlclpate dangerous weather and by
timely efforts guard against any fires
that might prove unmanageable. 1t
is impossible by human agency to eX-
tlnguish great forest fire, but such
fires can be prevented. Take pride
in making good record for yourself
and your town in preventing danger
GUS fires.
Under the Fire Warden Law of April
Is, 1895,
Supervisors of towns are Fire War
dens.
Mayors of cities are Fire Wardens.
Presidents of village councils are
Fire Wardens.
Fire Wardens shall post, or cause to
be posted, warning placards.
Fire Wardens shall take precautions
to prevent the setting of forest and
prairie fires.
Fire Wardens shall enforce the pro-
visions of the law.
This means that, among other things
they shall make complaint against par
ties who violate the law, and endeavor
to have them punished. Circumstan-
tial evidence is sometimes sufficient to
convict A person who in very dan
gerous weather causes fire which en-
dangers the property of another is liza
BILE under the first part of section 9.
Chairmen shall inquire into the cause
of each forest or prairie fire within
their districts and shall report the
same, etc.
This means that they shall make a
prompt and thorough inquiry, and
prompt report to the Chief Fire War
den.
The Chief Fire Warden has general
charge of the Fire Warden force of the
state, consequently his reasonable or
ders and instructions are to be obeyed
with promptitude.
Any Fire Warden who refuses or
neglects to perform his duties shall be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and
shall. upon conviction thereof, be pun
ished by fine of not more than 500
or imprisonment in the county Jail not
to exceed three months.
District courts as well as justices of
the peace have jurisdiction of offenses
under the Fire Warden Law
In case Fire Warden is to be absent
even for only half a day, he should ar
range to have some one act in his place
Each chairman will furnish one of
the printed copies herewith of this cir
cular to each of the other supervisors
of his town.
Fire Wardens will please read and
preserve this and other printed instruc-
tions which they may receive, and turn
the same over to their successors.