Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-09-12
PAPERS READ
BY FIREMEN
Three Contributions on Sub iects That
Are Of General Interest and I'm.
portance to the Public.
THE PREVENTION OF FIRES
Necessity Of Education in This Re.
spect-Fire Escapes on Public
BuiIdings-Fire Alarms.

"SAo iSau uullA5 'AS convention or
the State Firemen's association last
week, and they are typical of the class
of papers given throughout the con
vention, although these three are Sc.
lected for publication because they
are deemed to be of especial inteest
to the public.
The first is on "The Necessity of
Education and Precaution in the Pre-
ventiOn of Fires" and was presented
by the Big Timber volunteer depart.
ment:
The methods of fire prevention do
not keep pace with the increase of the
fire hazard of our country, which
furnish one-fourth of the fire loss in
the world.
The loss of 1905 is in excess of
100000 per day and besides this
nearly 1000 people in America were
sacrificed to the mad element dur
ing the year, over 500 per month.
More people were killed by railway
accidents than in the same time lost
life in the Boer war and yet, the
deaths by fire and fire fighting out
number those Of railway accidents.
Spontaneous combustion, if not
learned through the facts and figures
of it's increase each year. must teach
by bitter experience.
That harmless looking, overheated
stove is more cautiously contemplate
ed in the light of it's destruction Of
| over one-quarter of a million dollars
in the state of Ohio last year. and CT
| gar stubs will be more feared when
we learn that one state credits to them
loss of over 100000 last year, while
the careless use of gasoline with its
One-tenth of the colossal fire loss Of
Illinois for 1905 will give lessons heed
ed by some, who may chance to read
In the career Of fireman, this
thing of knowing your business" is
as essential to success as it is in any
other walk of life. But the knowl-
edge involved is not confined between
the engine house and the sudden fire.
For instance, the chief and his as
sistant will, if they are devoted to
their duties make it their business
to become acquainted with the dis
tricts in which they are to operate.
To "know" district means more
than to be sure of the location of
buildings and the condition of the
streets and alleys. 1t means also a
thorough and continuous familiarity
with the construction of every house,
the disposition and character of the
contents of every establishment the
arrangement of fire escapes and the
points of vantage from which fire
may be handled.
1t is not possible to eXagegrate the
value of this information, for the com
handing officer of company of fire
, men has something more than the
saving of property on his hands. The
lives of his men may some day OF
. night depend upon his absolute knowl
edge of the style of construction anG
the character of the contents of some
building. To master all these details
requires time and careful investiga
ton, and the man who expects to BIZ
: of the greatest and most lasting ser
vice to the department, will find tina
there is plenty for him to do between
fires. 1t will not do to depend al
: ways upon the chief or his assistan
:, for their knowledge, for occasions ma!
ers are off duty or absent, and il
= such an event the authority over thu
4 company may descend upon one o
!, the firemen.
5, It is a fact that a few men VIII,
4 belong to fire department, do 81
S merely for the pay or for the exemI
t. tions they may claim. Nine out of tel
e of them are born firemen and the
l. bring to their work something NOR
5. than the ability to work hard. The
Il have pride in the work, which is no
e apparent in every trade.
s. Their courage, their strength, thei
n everlasting readiness are regarded b
). themselves as matters of course; blu
as rule they go beyond this. TIL
It fireman in the ranks, if he means t
It excel, is likely to know all about hi
/, district. If he is serious about hi
It work he will, either by personal il
d vestigations or by dint of convers;
IS ton with his comrades, know a grea
h deal about the layout of every fir
that may occur in his neighborhoot
q. or course with the chief, the assis
v ant chief and the captains of con
5 panies this is an absolute duty, thi
e work of personally investigating buil'
q. ings and their contents and til
al streets, alleys and surroundings of tn
" section under their control.
4. Perhaps no branch of the public sc
le vice requires more of the time and a
n tention of its men than the fire d
at partment. They must not only
IN ready for the call of duty during I'll
IS day but they must be ready at nigf
ell as well. Besides the work of fightin
err fires there is an unending routine
OF less interesting work about the fiji
,e house. The house must be maintain
a ed clean and ready.
n. The ever changing conditions of I'll
IS buildings, streets and alleys of IL
is city give the energetic, industriol
Is, firemen plenty OF occupation and (;
tie a rule the less heroic details of Il
of work are not neglected.
N. The practical side of a firemen
at life is sure to be a busy one for II
Sc good firemen, and in this respect
is like any other business.
Every one knows that it requir,
>, courage and strength to be even g
All average fireman, but quick intelligenc
ic- continual study Of the details of Il
III work and its chances, absolute dev
III ton to the service at all hours al
under all conditions, are just as nece
W sary as strength and bravery.
m On Fire Alarms.
=, The following paper was prepare
-,