The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-01
CHIEF TELLS HOW
 FIRES ARE CAUSED Soot in ChimneyS Start BIazes
 in Washington SOME RULES TO FOLLOW Care Is Needed With oil, Gas and Gas oIlne stoves-Emptylng Hot Ashes-Funny Cause of Fire
 Is Recalled.
SOME RULES TO FOLLOW
From the Washlngton star

From the Washington Star.
 This is the time, before the beginning of the cool weather and the fires in dwell ings are started, for our householders to take preliminary steps to guard against fires" said Chief Belt to a Star reporter at fire headquarters
 "A few days ago there were three sepa- rate fires in this city in a single day rom the explosion of gas stoves. All gas stoves should be overhauled and thoroughly cleaned. The valves leak, or are not closed tightly when the stove IS not III use, and the flame is sometimes turheo down so low in order to save the gas that the draft in the kitchen Will eXtlngui5h the flame, but the gas escapes silslilly nevertheless Then when match IS ilsht- ed n slight or severe explosion is sure to follow. a..os
 "One of the most prolific causes or hres in this city Is the soot Tn chlhlheSs' iip now is the time for property owners to have their chimneys cleaned out. Ninety one fires occurred last year rom this slight cause alone, and in nearly every instance they might have been aVolaeu by precautionary measures sugees1eu' - is the deadly gasoline stove Whcn causes HIS the most trouble and out or the 70 fires we had last year from ths eause nearly all came from the use of this hlsh- lv volatile fluid for domestic purposes. Onr rules as to the storage of this fnfiam- mable danger are very strict, and we en- force our rules governing It's storage IFS idly. am glad 10 state the naolitie' from fire from this cause have been ma terially decreased in the District in- flammable oils may be stored only III sur, sur able iron or steel tanks situated outside
 have danger in many instances because the parties interested abandoned the storage rather than go to the expense or coihply- ing with the regulations.
 Instances of Carelessness.
 "As deadly dangerous as gasoline IS I,nown to be, nevertheless househoiders nersist in filling the stoves when they are lighted or hot and a large percentage ol this class of fires result from usihs le"NS l,tS s+oyas We have the same serious results from persons carelessly using leaKy o,i stoves and placing these stoves m suei, nosition that they can be easily knocked a,,or on inc floor, The reckless disregard of life and property, and the ignorance disnlayed in handling and using gasohhe and oil are astonishing.
 "When the cold weather sets III we have many fires from carelessly hanuiihS hot ashes Householders should rerheiil her this. and allow their hot ashes 10 cool before disposing of them. As all house. 1,oanars Lnov If will soon be the season for uniting I'D lace curtains for the Wlh- ter Snecial care should be given to gas tets in the vicinity of lace curtains. TOT the wind blowing the thin lace against the flame causes a lot of fires in ths city dnrine the winter months
 "The ubiuuitous small boy will shoruy he in his element. ?lavino with fire and
 ahn11itiOn Of ChllQlSn elee on the part of our youngsters causes on an average about one hundred ilres year in this city. and parents should take notice saccordingly. That good old stahu- hv. the defective flue, will shortly be with us again working overtime. Tor property owners seem strangely negligent In nav ing the hues of their premises cleaned ana kent in repair. though all know how dangerous they are and that they cause some of our most stubborn fires
 "Owners having electricity on ther nremiscs should look out for defective wires and the crossing and short circuit ing of the wires; they should be re quently examined.
 on our inspection of premises we de- vote special attention to this important matter. and have offered many suRges- lions which have probably averted ignl- tion The throwing of matches on the floor, in rubbish waste baskets. rags. leaves. kindling wood clothes and against lace curtains and draperies and In other well-known places where ignition is prob able is pure carelessness on the part Of persons who know better, and causes large number of our fires
 cremating the Cat.
 What is the funniest cause of fire to my mind? Why smoking a cat out of tree. We had to turn out the department for thus trying to cremate Pussy. The practice of smoking pipes. cigars and cig arettes in bed is bad ono for the bed and the house. but a good one for self-immo- lation. yet men continually do it to their sorrow The mere stepping on match turns out the department a dozen times year. Rs. poison is cheap, vet we have thirty to forty fires a year from the TO- dents gnaving the sulphur on matches.
 "In the warmer months we have a lot of fires from burning brush in gardens. most of which are avodable, while we traced about a score of fires during the year to the deadly cigarette stub alone.