Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-09-04
Madison, August 29.

Madison, August 20.
State Fire Marshal T. NJ. Purteli,
whose Office was created by
the last legislature, now has
his department in operation
and already a number of cases
of fires have been reported. Yester-
day he issued bulletin. explaining
the provisions and intent of the fire
marshal law and the good results
which the department hopes to obtain
in the lessening of fires, the decrease
of fire insurance risks and consequent
ly the lowering of rates of insurance.
Here is synopsis of the law:
Fire MarshaFs Duties.
The most important duty of the
fire marshal is to create a universal
impression that swift pursuit and inev-
liable punishment awaits any one who
burns property for revenge or to de-
fraud. He is also given power to cor
rect conditions which are liable to
cause fires, that are discovered by his
inspectors or are reported by citizens.
The fire marshal law provides that the
cause, origin and circumstance of
every fire occurring in the state in
which the loss exceeds $25 shall
be reported to the fire marshal. The
report of a ire in a city having a fire
department is to be made by it's
chief; If in city or village by the
mayor or president of the board; If
in rural community by the town
clerk. The officer is required within
two days to especially make investi-
cation as to whether such fire was the
result of carelessness, accident or de-
sign
Suspicious Fires.
IF there be circumstances which
suggest probability that the fire was
started Intentionally by some one,
no matter how small the loss, the
state fire marshal must be notified at
once. If there are no suspicious cir
cumstances the officer must within
one week furnish to the fire marshal
a written statement of all the facts
relating to the cause and origin of the
fire and such other information as
may be called for by the blanks fur
nished by said fire marshal
''The penalty for the failure of the
clerk, mayor or fire chief to so report
fire is fine of $25 to 5000. For the
making of each report township clerks
and municipal omcers who do not re-
ceived a stated salary are allowed 81
and ten cents a mile to and from the
place of the fire. This money is paid
to the reporters of fires at the years
end. Fire chiefs and mayors receiv-
ing stated salaries get no fee. In a
few days blanks and instructions will
be mailed to these officers. Upon
their active sympathetic aid the sue
cess of the new fire marshal depart
tent largely depends.
Powers of Marshal.
The fire marshal, his assistants or
deputies may take up the investiga-
ton of any fire at any time and exer-
else all the powers of court. They
may compel the attendance of wit
nesses and the production of books;
may administer oaths, make arrests,
and punish for contempt by fine or
jail sentence. They may separate wit
nesses and exclude attorneys during
examinations. The fire marshal must
reduce all testimony he takes to writ
ing, furnish copy of it with all other
facts of value to the prosecuting at
torney of the county and follow each
case until 1t is disposed of. The fire
marshal or any of his assistants is
given the right, at all times of the
day or night to enter a building in
which fire has occurred, or the build
ings near by for the purpose of exam
ination and may at all reasonable
hours enter any buildings or premises
for the purpose of investigating fire
dangers.
May Remove Dangers
''The fire marshal or his assistants
may direct that any building which is
so dilapidated as to be a fire danger
shall be repaired or that dangers from
combustibles or explosives be rene
died. The owner who fails to COM
ply with the order of the fire mar
shall can be punished by fine of $40
10 $50 for each days neglect, by suit
brought in the municipal or Justices
court. The necessity of having a
state department for the investiga-
lion of suspicious fires lies in the fact
that successful work in that line can
only be done by those who have a
special training in the pursuit of in
cendiaries a training that officers
charged with other duties have no
Aip,a n aocy,ira