The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-04-01
IN CASE Of FIRE
Suggestions Offered by the State Fire
marshal Under the Different
Circumstances.
Circumstances

SAiCulIlSUAxlCCSs
II the home is on fire. Ones ability
to %extinguish a starting fire or to esA
cape II caught in a burning building
depends upon intelligence and self
control.
If the blaze is just starting, throw
water on the material that is burning
not at the blaze. One bucket Of
water will do more good thrown on
by handfuls, or with a broom than
dashed on at once.
A small fire may be smothered
with rug or blanket, or beaten out
with a wet broom.
II you cannot put out the starting
fire in a minute, yell fire and then.
II IN a city. call for the department.
Everyone living in the house should
know the telephone number to DO
used for getting the fremen. and Il
should be on the wall by the tells
phone for strangers to use. There 4
no time for looking in the directory.
even II nj should not be too nery-
GUS to find a number. Everyone
should know where the nearest IRE
alarm box Is and how to use 1t.
But do not leave the door open
when you run out to give an alarn.
II the doors and windoys are closed
when a ire starts. one can always
get the fremen there In time to put
1t out while 1t is in only one room.
The fire soon uses all the oxygen in
a closed room and may die out II Il
gets no fresh air.
While the F1remen are Coming.
After the fremen are called, work
at getting out the things you want
most to save. Don't throw the clock
from the window and then carry out
your clothing, as some persons have
done.
If awakened in the night by the
smell of fire, don't dress. Wrap
yourself in a blanket or quilt from
the bed and get out the quickest way
you can. Shut the doors you pass
through. After calling help look in
and see where and what danger there
is. You can then tell IL it is best
to try to carry out the household
goods. II the fire is on the first
floor, it is very dangerous to go
above. because the heat and choking
smoke go up.
One can often get out through a
hall filled with smoke by going on
his hands and knees, when he would
fall choking If he ran. The smoke is
thickest at the ceiling. Holding a
wet towel or anything made of fan
mel, or even a coat collar, over the
mouth greatly lessons the danger of
injury to the lungs, or death. from
the carbonic acid gas in the smoke.
Caught in a Burning Building.
Most fires start in the first floor or
basement Of the building and burn a
hole up through the roof. In a house
the flames travel by the stairways;
In a big store or hotel they go quick
ly up the elevator shaft. After
reaching the top the fire spreads
and slowly goes down, burning the
wood that is left.
1T a man working in a big store
or factory sees a fire starting he
should turn in the alarm, if there is
one in the building; try to put it out
with the water in any pail nea by;
then use a chemical extinguisher, il
there is one.
If one is in a burning building
with no fire escapes and the stair be-
low is burning, or the hall is filled
with smoke, he should shut the door
and transom to KEEP out the deadly
gases. Then he should throw open
the window to get the cool air and
let the firemen and neighbors see
where he is, SO that they may bring
a ladder to the window.
One should wait at the window
until he is scorched or choking. By
that time the firemen will be hold
ing a big hoop covered with canvas
in which they will catch him when
he jumps. or the neighbors will hold
a blanket to catch him. If no one
is near. he should throw out the
bedding, tick and all. and jump on
that. 1t is safer to jump into the
top of a tree than to the ground.
Frank A. Craft,
State Fire Marshal.