The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-03-26
THE NEEDLESS
FIRE WASTE

The ANIMAL fire waste In Ohio
is seven million dollars, nearly all
of it preventable. In the first year
of the fire marshal department the
loss was eleven millions. While
the property owner can protect
himself by insurance against per-
haps four-fifths of the loss possible,
other insured persons pay it.
Added to the direct waste from
fire is the loss OF time of employees
in stores and factories and the loss
of customers by the owners. Care
essness or inattentinn to- known
danger is responsible for three
fourthB of the fires and the other
fourth are from ignorance except
the small number which are set
with criminal intent.
In spite of the fact that the
amount ut risk has nearly doubled
in eight years, the fire loss has
fallen 364 per cent.
This enormous reduction IN the
proportion Of loss to amount at
risk should be credited to increased
efficiency of fire department better
waterworks; scientific examIna-
tlon of large risks by inspection
bureaus; improved building codes,
methods and materials, the intro
duction of natural gas and the eff
ficiency of well-supported fire
marshal department.
The losses of insurance compan-
les are little more than half the
actual loss. Insurance men when
asked what proportion of the value
of the property in the United
States is covered by insurance say
75 to 80 per cent. The figures of
the fire marshal, who gets reports
of all fires, show that In Ohio only |
528 percent, is covered by insur-
ance.
Every January statement Of
the amount Of fire loss for the pre-
ceding year in the United States
and Canada goes the rounds of the
pre- ss. This figure is the footing
Of tabulations of losses made by
the New York Journal of Commerce
from newspaper reports. For 1907
It is $215, 5,07l, $50. The actual
.oss is probably1one.third as much
more.
For each dollar of the two hun
ired and fifteen million paid in
osses, another dollar was spent in
and paying it over.
Both dollars came out of the in
'urance premiums. To this should
DC added the cost of fire depart
nents, and water for their use. In
arge cities this cost of fire pro-
lection averages Il dollar and
quarter year for each man, wom-
an and child. SO carelessness
With fire, and neglect to enforce
proper fire danger and building
ordinances costs in the United
States and Canada not less than
.hree hundred million dollars
money spent for private fire fight
ng apparatus not included.
The fire loss in Ohio is $1.57
Ter capita. In states having no
ire marshal the average is So AZ
,er capita. In Dublin the loss is
"A cents a head, while in Boston,
IN Irish American city of the same
ize, it is $3 81.
Two thirds of the fires and over
lalf the losses from fires in Ohio
'ccur In cities of more than ten
thousand population, The farms,
he villages and cities of less than
0,000 show but 33 per cent of the
Tres and but ~ per cont of the
oss. The sound value of the prop
.rty fired in the larger cities is 81
Der cent Of the whole amount ieop-
Irdized in the state.
The per capita loss in cities of
,yer ten thousand ia 50 30 in
mall cities and the country it is
;1,O9.
Taking the state as whole the
oss on building u fire was l5t per
.ent of their sound value. In 1906
t was 10 per cent This shows
increased efficiency of our fire
lighting organizations.
The service of the fire marshnps
department. so reduces the fire
waste that the average premium
IN 800 of Insurance. in Ohio is
;l.16, while the average in adj0in.