Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-14
DANGER IN GASOLINE
TO ITS USE ARE DUE VERY MANY
FIRES.
Some of the Needs of the Fire Depart
ment Here Set Forth by
an Official

Some excellent cautionary advice about
the danger Of the use of gasoline and coal
oil in The Star recently reminds me of some
further facts for householders, ard some
curious things about fires' remarked an
official of the fire department this morning.
THE fire on K street few days ago orig
mated In a lot of rubbish in the cellar. A
large percentage of the fires in Washington
are caused because people are so careless in
throwing things in the cellar or in the
basement, and even in closets. The depart
ment goes after business men, hotel pro-
prietors and others whom it can reach very
energetically when it learns that cellars and
Easements are filled with rubbish and cast
off material. Private houses, however, are
not so easily reached, and property owners
and tenants are respectfully cautioned to
keep their cellars and Easements clean The
department will be glad to receive notifica-
lions from citizens of Washington of in
stances where such carelessness exists.
Five fires in this city last year resulted di-
rectly from rubbish in cellars and twenty
five from spontaneous combustion, causes
of fire easily prevented.
Another habit of servants is to throw hot
ashes in a corner in the cellar. and nothing
this dangerous practice on the part of some
people. These fires are exceedingly danger
ous as they smolder during the day, break
ing out at night when the occupants of the
house are asleep. That nineteen fires orig
mated from the single cause of hot ashes
In this city last year ought to be a warning
to householders to comply strictly with the
rules of the fire, health and building de-
partments.
Interesting Facts About Fires.
MANY persons believe that a large per-
centage Of fires occur in the early morning
hours While conditions vary in the diff
ferent cities, those existing in Washington
will be found of interest to our citizens.
The greatest number of fires last year oc-
Cured between the hours of o'clock and
midnight-2S9 alarms being turned in. In
the afternoon hours the next highest num-
ber-245-were turned in, while there were
100 alarms Of fire in the morning hours and
II from midnight to 6 o'clock. A third
more fires occur in the winter than IN the
summer months, and about a quarter more
fires in the spring than in the fall months
Month by month fires are less frequent in
September than in any other month, and
more frequent in November two-thirds
more alarms being turned in in November
than in September.
There was a time in Washington when a
large number of false fire alarms We're
department. False alarms of fire have
fallen off so per cent. This is largely be-
cause of the increased vigilance of the police
in catching false fire alarm fiends and the
imposition of severe penalties by our courts.
1t is singular fact that many of the acct
dents to our fire apparatus ard men have
occurred when responding to false alarms
and persons who Intentionally turn them in
ought to be shown mercy by our judges
1t costs the city a good many dollars In
money every time four steamers, two trucks
and chemical engine are turned out in re-
Spouse, to single alarm of fire. and the
wear and tear is appreciate.
There is one point about the efficiency of
our fire department and the excellent con-
dillon of its apparatus compared with
some years ago which should not go unno-
ticed. At one time. upon. returning from
a fire ore or more pieces of apparatus were
| nearly always found to be in need of more
or less repairs, especially after a good fire.
Now they turn out go into service and re-
turn, and seldom require the services of the
machine DOCTOR the superintendent of re-
pairs, Thomas NJ. Robinson.
A Repair Shop Much Needed.
This very satisfactory condition of the
apparatus of the Washington fire depart
ment is largely due to the active personal
attention Mr. Robinson, who is an expert
machinist, gives to the apparatus upder his