Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-17
GRASS FIRES KEEP
DEPARTMENT BUSY
ALARMS ARE SOUNDED EVERY
HOUR
Vegetation Very Dry and Is Easily Set
AbIaze-smaIl Boy and Cigar
Stubs Are Chiefly Re-
sponsble

Yesterday was record breaking day
dozen times the fire department
turned out to put out flames of grass,
fences and rubbish. For the past few
weeks grass fires have been happening
with increasing frequency, but no day
brought forth such a large number
as yesterday.
The dried up condition of everything
makes this kind of fire very danger
Gus If 1t Is not speedily attended by
the f1remen. In every part of the city
the long green grass of spring has
turned to the dull brown of summer
and 1t takes very little to start q hot
blaze.
Members of the fire department say
many of the grass fires are started by
small boys who like to hear the clat-
ter and noise of the rushing fire en-
gines. Then 1t amuses them when the
firemen show displeasure because the
whole department has been turned out
when single chemical engine could
do as much good as a dozen fire en-
gines.
Cigars Cause Fires
Another prolific source is the throw
ing away of cigarettes and cigars.
SSW AiAOAi thhhh etAy tiiihG oOOub IL niiOii
they cast away lighted cigar, but
this may fall in the dry grass and
shoulder for hours next to a cost
ly residence and then suddenly
break out into a hot fire. Only the
prompt arrival of the firemen will stop
the destruction of valuable property.
The fire department asks all to be
careful in what they do with lighted
matches, cigars and cigarettes.
The department also asks that when
ever any one wishes to turn in an
alarm for a grass fire they do 1t by
telephone and not from a fire alarm
box. When the "still' alarm is given
only a chemical will be sent out, but
when a box alarm is turned in the en-
tire apparatus Of a number of houses
Is sent to the scene. This useless
rushing of the horses to a place they
are not needed is not conducive to the
best interest and efficiency of the fire
department and the firemen request
that they be assisted as much as pos
sible in their efforts to cope with the
| fires.
Hospital Patients Alarmed
The most exciting grass fire yester-
day occurred at 427 South Olive street
in the rear of the Hotel Trenton and
the Clara Barton hospital. 1t burned
nOtiy 4Oi aDOut liuiL AAOoht WhOh tAAN
flremen arrived and put 1t out. The
occupants of the hotel and some OF
| the patients in the hospital were
alarmed by the dense smoke and crack.
| ling noise of the burning weeds, but
their alarms were soon over when thu
| firemen arrived.
| At the corner of Sichel and Alhambrs
fire crept from grass to a small one
story building, but no damage wa!
done to the premises. About $25 dam
age was done to the hedge and fence
of a one-story frame building at 1871
winfield street. 1t is supposed that 6
| lighted cigar was thrown into the dead
grass at the foot of the hedge and this
crept up to the fence.
Lumber Burned
About $50 worth of lumber was
burned up on vacant lot at the COR
ner Of Eighteenth street and Gramercy
place. There was considerable tall
grass ON this lot and before the flames
could be stopped the lumber was con-
sumed. Other fires occurred at Thirty
seventh street and Del Norte, Boyle
Heights and Stephenson avenues, Sew
enth and Ezra under Seventh street
bridge and at Fourth and Euclid ave.
nue..
A grass fire at Lake Shore drive
and Sunset boulevard yesterday morn
ing caused the good people OF the
neighborhood to think that another
San Francisco disaster was imminent
Great volumes of smoke arose from
the dry brush and rubbish in the
blazing area, and not until the men
of the vicinity, reinforced by gang
of laborers from a near by grading
camp, had gone to work with wet sacks
and rakes. was the blaze extinguished