The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-04-28
M|INNESOT NEWS.
Matters Pertaining to the State
Fire Wardens.
a Circular Explaining the Laws and the
Duties Of the Wardens. The stats
Desires Special Observance.
STATE OF MINNESOTA, Office Of
Chief Fire Warden st. Paul, Mimi,
Anri1 % 1900

STATE OF MINNESOTA, Office OF
Chief Fire Warden st. Paul, Mimi,
April, 20, 1899.
To Fire Wardens:
We are entering upon the fifth year
OF the Fire Warden Law, and each
year should show Improvement in its
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
n1shed. 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
portunity for warning careless persons
better than most anyone else. 1t was
because OF this that they are consti-
tuted Fire Wardens. They must an
ticipate dangerous weather and by
timely efforts guard against any fires
that might prove unmanageable. It
is impossible by human agency to ex-
tlnguish great forest fire, but such
fires can be prevented. Take a. pride
in making good record for yourself
and your town in preventing danger
Gus fires.
Under the Fire Warden Law of April
10, 1895,
Supervisors OF towns are Fire War
dens.
Mayors of cities are Fire Wardens.
Presidents of village councils arc
Fire Wardens. -S- ~--
Fire Wardens shall post, or cause to
deposited, warning placards. a..
Fire Wardens shall take precautions
to prevent the setting of forest and
prairie fires. i 5~~~
Fire Wardens shall enforce the pro
visions of the law. a * Z
This means that, among other things,
they shall make complaint against par
ties who violate the law, and endeavo1
to have them punished. Circumstan-
tial evidence is sometimes sufficient ia
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 O,
neglects to perform his duties shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and
| shall, upon conviction thereof, be pun.
ished by a fine of not more than $1O(
or imprisonment in the county Jail no,
to exceed three months.
District courts as well as justices Of
the peace have Jurisdiction of offense.
under the Fire Warden Law.
In, case a Fire Warden is to be absen,
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.
Respectfully,
| C. C. ANDREWS.
Chief Fire Warden.