Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-23
Instances of Carelessness.

LAS deadly dangerous as gasoline Is known
to be, nevertheless householders persist in
filling the stoves when they are lighted or
hot, or in handling the can around lighted
stove and a large percentage of this class
of fires result from using leaky stoves. We
have the same serious results from persons
careleSSy using leaky Oil stoves and piac-
ing these stoves in such positions that they
can be easily knocked over to the moor. Inc
reckless disregard of life and property, and
the ignorance displayed in handing ana
using gasoline and oil are astonishing.
when the cold weather sets in we nave
many fires from carelessy handling hot
ashes. Householders should remember this
and allow their hot ashes to cool before dis
posing of them. AS all housekeepers know.
it will soon be the season for putting up
lace curtains for the winter. Special care
should be given to gas jets in the vicinity
thin lace against the flame causes a lot Of
fires in this city during the winter months.
1.-The ubiquitous small boy will shortly be
in his element, playing with fire and with
matches. This ebullition of childish glee on
the part of our youngsters causes on an
average of about one hundred fires a year
in this city, and parents should take notice
accordingly. That good old standby. the
defective fiue, will shortly be with US again
working overtime, for property owners
seem strangely negligent in having the
fiues of their premises cleaned and kept In
repair, though all know how dangerous
most stubborn fires.
Owners having electricity on their prem
Uses should look out for defective wires and
the crossing and short circuiting of the
wires; they should be frequently examined
In our inspection of premises We devote
special attention to this important matter
have probably averted ignition. The throw
ing of matches on the floor, in rubbish,
waste baskets, rags. leaves, k1ndling wood,
clothes and against lace curtains and drap-
rn1n yaora
ignition is probable, is pure careiessness 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 a
tree We had to turn out the department
for thus trying to cremate Pussy. The
practice of smoking pipes, cigars and cigar
cites in bed is a bad one for the bed and
the house, but a good one fer self-immola-
ton, yet men continually do 1t to their
sorrow. The mere stepping on a match
turns out the department a dozen times a
year. Rat poison Is cheap, yet we have
thirty to forty fires a year from the rodents
knawing the sulphur on matches
In the warmer months we have lot of
fires from burning brush in gardens. most
of which are avoidable, while we traced
about a score Of fires during the year to
the deadly cigarette stub alone. laundry
bag is a poor place in which to drop light
ed matches yet some of our ladies are thus
careless, while occasionally by way of va
riety they drop them in bureau drawers.
"A large number of fires arise from a
cause which could easily be controlled, and
that is from overheated stoves, furnaces,
latrobes, ranges, ovens, chimneys and fire.
places. About score of fires occur every
year from spontaneous combustion. In
houses where the wax taper is used in light
Ing the gas, especial care should be eXer-
csed. Call in the gasfitter, because you
may be saved fire from the gas escaping
from the pipes, and If you want your fire
to burn quickly in the morning don't use
coal oil to help it along, or you will quickly
need the help of the department in all prob
ability to save your premises in this foolish
time-saving attempt. Upon the whole, this
is the Rason to begin to think about the
different causes of fires and to guard
against as many as is possible