Evening star., 1902-03-01
DANGER FROM FIRE
WOULD BE LEssENED IF MORE
CARE WERE EXERCISED.
Here Are Some Simple Rules That
Should Be in Every House
hold. sfi

Now that the putting out of fires has
become matter Of science with some fire
department officials" remarked, an old fire
man to Star reporter a few days ago,
they should pay some attention to the
question of how to prevent confa agrations.
Referring to the last report of the fire
department the fireman read:
During the past year there were ninety
three fires, or about 15 per cent Of the
total number, caused either directly or in
directly by gasoline or like fluids The use
of gasoline, particularly as fuel, is increas-
irg yearly, and the traffic in it corre-
spondingly increases. 1t is admitted to be
one Of the most treacherous and dangerous
Of inf1ammable oils, it being contended that
its explosive power is double that Of gum
powder. 1t is earnestly recommended that
its storage in large quantities within the
fire limits be not permitted except under
such conditions as will insure, or tend to
insure, the highest possible degree Of public
safety. 1t is no less earnestly recommend
ed that dealers in gasoline and gasoline
stoves and other like appliances be required
to furnish to every purchaser printed In
structfons as to the care and proper use of
this fluid and such appliances, for there is
general and surprising ignorance among
ture of the Oil.''
1T is true" continued the old fireman.
that gasoline causes a great number OF
fires and most Of them result from care
lessness. With the exercise Of proper care
many such fires would be avoided and
many lives would undoubtedly be saved.
1t might be well to print series of instruc-
t1ons to people concerning the several pre-
cautions to be taken which might have
tendency to reduce the number of fires.
Years ago." he stated, gasoline was
hardly heard Of, and gas stoves were not at
all numerous. Then the common coal Oil
or Kerosene was used to assist in starting
fires, and many times the oil so used caused
destructive fires and occasionally was the
cause Of losing life 1t would be impossi-
BILE to prevent fires, of course, but I'm GER
tain that Chief Dutton might adopt the
means suggested and prevent many fires
during the course of a year. When there
is to be aebig celebration Of any kind here
the police department invariably instructs
the public to be on the lookout for pick
pockets and various other crooks. and it is
a matter Of record that less stealing has
been done under Major Sylvester's regime
than before he accepted the office"
Proper Precautions.
The old fireman suggested the printing of
cards for distribution on which heads of
families might be given information as fol-
lows:
Always believe gasoline is dynamite and
handle it accordingly.
Do not permit children to use matches as
play toys.
Never throw hot ashes on the ash pile.
Keep lace curtains away from lighted gas
jets
See that matches are not burning when
thrown away.
Do not keep greasy rags about the house.
"Of course" continued the veteran,
many other useful hints could be added to
the few have suggested. 1t is we'll known
that these are the causes of many diSas-
trous blazes. and it is also certain that with
such hints before them all the time more
care would probably be exercised. The
cards 1 have suggested might be distributed
and hung in the houses the same don't
blow out the gas signs are displayed in
hotels and garbage signs in our Kitchens