The gold leaf., 1900-04-12
TO PREVENT FIRES.
Insurance Commissioner Young Ex.
plains the Law.

! plains the Law.
! Many good laws upon the statute
books fail to be Of real benefit to the
community because they are not
brought to the knowledge of the peo-
pie or properly enforced. Some very
valuable laws regulating the insur-
ance business in the State were pass
ed by the last Legislature. and as it
was made the duty of the insurance
commissioner of the State to look
after their proper Enforcement, de-
sire to call the attention OF the public
to the act for the "investigation Of
| fires" chapter 5S, laws of 1899.
Under this law every fire in the
State is required to be investigated,
and it's cause, origin and circum-
stances looked into by the officers Of
the cities and towns, mayors, chief Of
fire department or fire committee of
board Of aldermen.
A heavy penalty is fixed for fail
ure to make this investigation and
report TO the insurance commissioner
of all circumstances surrounding the
fire. If the facts warrant it the COM
missioner is required to take up the
investigation and make it thorough.
Even an imperfect knowledge and
carrying out of this law during the
past year has resulted in much good
and a saving to the people Of the
State of over 100000 in annual
premiums in fire risks.
One part of this act can also be
made of much real benefit. refer to
the part giving the authority to
officers to remove anything dangerous
and likely to cause fires. | refer to
the following:
Section 1. The insurance commits
sioner, or the chief of the fire depart
ment or fire committee Of the board
of aldermen, shall have the right at
all reasonable hours, for the purpose
of examination, to enter into and
upon all buildings and premises with
in their Jurisdiction. Whenever any
of said officers shall find in any build
ing or upon any premises combustible
material or imflammable conditions
dangerous to the safety of such build
ing or premises they shall order the
same to be removed, or remedied +,
and such order shall be forthwith
compiled with by the owner or oc-
cupant of said building or premises
Provided, however, that if the said
owner or occupant shall deem him
self aggrieved by such order he may,
within twenty-four hours, appeal to
the insurance commissioner, and the
cause of the complaint shall be at
once investigated by the direction of
the latter, and unless by his authority
the order of the fire chief or fire com
mittee is revoked such order shall re-
main in force and be forthwith COM
piled with by said owner or occupant.
The insurance commissioner, fire
chief or fire committee as aforesaid
shall make an immediate investiga-
ton as to the presence OF inflam-
mable conditions in any building OF
upon any premises under their juris-
diction upon complaint Of any pers on
having an interest in said building OIL
premises or ad jacent thereto. Any
owner or occupant of buildings OF
premises failing to comply with tho
|
fed shall be punished by fine of not
less than ten dollars nor more than
fifty dollars for each days neglect.
There is no doubt but that large
number OF fires in our cities anC
towns could be prevented if more
care were taken in requiring al
buildings to be properly erected and
all premises regularly inspected. 1t
is strange, but II fact, that even oul
best citizens will neglect the proper
precautions in building and carin.
for their houses against fires.
1t is duty OF every city and towr
government in the State to see that
this law is properly enforced, and to
pass suitable ordinances to this end
as has been done in Wilmington
Greensboro, Winston and other cities
The recent fires and alarms in the
city of Raleigh should impress upon
the board of aldermen of the city, as
well as the property owners. whom
they represent, the great importance
of using every means for the proven
tion of fires. especially such are pro
vided by laws already on the s,atut,
books. When fires are starting il
cellars, closets, garrets and sucf
places, it is we'll to look out for dcfec
tive fues, trash, waste and such
breeders Of fires.
What applies to our capital city
and may well serve as warning L
them, need well apply with equa
force. and in MANY cases with more
to every city and town in the State
II the authorities OF the cities ant
towns OF the State will look into this
matter, enforce the law. and make
Iproper ordinances along this line
governing the erection Of building
and the proper inspection OF al
premises, they will soon notice :
wonderful decrease in the numbe
and frequency Of fires, and in time ge
an additional decrease OF rates by in
surance companies.
j. r. YOUNG,
Insurance Commissioner.
Pola;rb v March 81 1anD