The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-08-22
Chief Isermann Must Render
Strict Account To the State
of the Cause of all Fires
MUST INSPECT BUILDINGS
State Fire Marshal is Given Wide
Powers In the New Law Recently
Passed by the Wisconsin
State Legislature

A vast amount of new routine work
has been laid at the door of Chief of
the Fire Department Isermann by the
of the State Legislature and in the
future he will have to make complete
reports to the state fire marshall of
every fire that takes place in the city
in which the loss is SIS or over. The
deputy state fire marshal has made
his first visit to the city and has ex-
planned the duties of the chief under
the new law. 1t is the plan of the
new law to make it possible for the
state to keep a complete record of
every fire IN the state and the cause
of them. The law under which the
work is to be done is in part as
follows:
''Section 1946i. 1. The state fire
marshal and the chief of the fire de-
partment of every city or village ia
which fire department. is ablished,
and the mayor of every incorporated
city, and the president of the village
board of every incorporated village in
which no FIRE department exists, and
the town clerk of every org anized
township without the limits of any
| organized city or village shall in
vestigate or cause to be investigated
the cause, origin and circumstances of
every fire occurring IN such city,
village or town by which property has
been destroyed or damaged when the
damage exceeds twenty-five dollars,
except that all fires of unknown
origin shall be reported, and shall
especially make investigation as to
whether such IRE was the result of
care1essness, accident or design.
80. Such investigation shall be be-
gun within two days of the occurrence
of such fire, and the state fire marshal
shall have the right to supervise and
direct such investigation whenever he
deems it expedient or necessary.
SO. The officer making investiga-
ton of fires occurring in cities, viii
lagos and towns shall forthwith no.
tify said state fire marshal and shall
within one week of the occurrence of
LAG Ill 4uA A4SI4 W lA1O Sd1O STATE AIO
marshal a written statement of all the
facts relating to the cause and origin
of the fire, and such further informa-
ton as may be called for by the blanks
furnished by said state fire marshal.
The state fire marshal shall keep in
his Office record of all fires occurring
in the state, together with all facts,
statistics aud circumstances, includ-
ing the origin of the fires, which may
be determined by the investig atoms
provided by this act; such statistics
shall be al all times open to public in
spection.
"Section 1946l. /. The state fire
marshal, his chief assistant and depu-
ties, upon complaint of any person, or
without any complaint previously en-
tered, shall have right at all reason
able hours, for the purpose of examin-
alton, to enter into and upon all build
ings and premises within their iuris-
diction.
~. Whenever any Of said officers
shall find any building or other struc-
ture, which for want of repair, or by
reason of age or dilapidated condi-
ton, or for any other cause is espec-
tally liable to fire, and which is so
situated as to endanger other build
ings and property, and whenever any
such officers shall find in any build
ing, or upon any premises, any COM
bustible or explosive material, or in
fammable conditions, dangerous to
the safety of said buildings or prem
ises, they shall have power to make
reasonable orders for the repair or re-
moval of the same, and such order
shall be forthwith complied with by
the owner or occupant of said prem
Uses or building.
20. Any owner or occupant of
buildings or premises failing to COM
ply with any reasonable order of the
authorities, above specified, shall be
| punished by fine of not less than
ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars
for each days neglect, in any action
to be brought by any of the officers
| above referred to in any municipal or
! justice court in the county where such
owner or occupant is resident"
| w. j. Smith, Frank Just and Frank
Fowler well known Waukegan news
ma rer men have heen arrested on az.