The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-11-28

State Fire MARSHAL Gives Instructions
to Guard Against Fires.


loss. The Marshal says:
The fires caused by errors in
construction or lack of attention
to the avenues for the escape of
smoke from heaters, it is estimat-
ed, number in Maryland each year
about 200, aud the accruing loss
is about SI2o, 900.
"TwO-thirds of this big loss
could be saved if each householder,
before severe weather sets in, has
inspected and cleaned the fues in
his or her house. Why not pro-
tect your property and its occu-
pants by devoting 10 minutes to
this commonest of all fire dangers?
Fires from defective chimneys
usually occur in the attic, and
thus get a good start in the dry
wood before discovery is made.
Attics being difficult to reach with
water bucket, the fire is likely to
get beyond control quickly.
The settling of the foundation
of a house may open a crevice be-
tween the bricks or stones, enabl-
ing sparks to escape. Sometimes
new chimney IN settling forms a
crack because one side of it is
supported by floor timbers.
a chimney built on joists or
bracket is continually a source of
danger, because of the liability of
cracks being caused by springing
of the timbers. Chimneys so built
often have as their base a plank,
and its only protection from sparks
and heat is a layer of mortar on it.
Many fires result from this cause.
Some things to be remembered
by builders and housewives are
that:
Poor mortar crumbles out,
leaving openings.
Nails driven into brick chin
neys are likely to come out, leav-
ing holes.
"a joist end should not rest in
a chimney wall.
Tile chimneys of all sorts are
unsafe, because they are likely to
crack off at the level of the roof,
where cold air strikes them.
a hood should make no offset
to hold SCOT.
A chimney top should be in
spected and SCOT swept down and
removed from below.
A stovepipe must be cleaned
frequently. Earring the SCOT down
IS not enough. A scraper should
be used inside to remove scales,
and then it should be inspected,
section by section, for rust holes,
which might permit sparks to fly
outward instead of upward.
See that the pipe when mp is
sparktight throughout ard is not
pushed into the fue so as to choke
it.
AN elbow in a stovepipe lessons
the liability of PARTICLES of kindling
or fuel being drawn from the chin
ney top and alighting still red-hot
on the shingles. If such sparks
are given elbow room they are
likely to bump in making the turn
aud fall back harmless. While
fire is burning the air in CHM
ney travels up at the rate of three
to six feet a second.
Rag filled holes cause fires.
A stovepipe should not pass
where it cannot be seen, as through
lath-and- plaster partition or
through an attic or unused room,
because openings in it may occur
from rust or the parting of seam
or joint. In such cases the pipe
becomes covered with a fluff, which
is liable to ignite.
"a pipe should not pass through
a wooden roof, window frame or
siding of a summer kitchen. 1t is
liable to become red-hot.
mo fue should be smaller than
8 by s inches, which is the length
of brick. If any green wood is
used the flue should be bv IL
inches.
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