The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-04-15
BULLETIN By FIRE MARSHAL.
State Fire Marshal Frank A. Craft
Issues Bulletin for the Guidance OF
Those Caught In Building.

ISSUES 6ulletin tor tho SuiodhCc OF
Those Caught In Building.
The following bulletin has been sent
out from the Office Of the state fire
marshal:
"One's ability to extinguish a start.
ing fire Or to escape if caught in a
burning building depends upon intelli-
gence and s~elf-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 dash
ed on at once.
"A small fire may be smothered with
rug or blanket, or beaten out with a
wet broom.
IF you cannot put out the starting
fire in a minute, yell fire, and then
If in a city call for the department.
Every one living in the house should
know the telephone number to be
used for getting the firemen, and 1t
should be on the wall by the tele-
phone for strangers to use. There Is
no time for looking In the directory,
wen If one should not be too nervous
to find a number. Every n should
know where the nearest fire alarm box
is, and how to use it.
While the Firemen Are Coming.
After the fremen are called, work
at getting out the things you want
mos t 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 your
self in a blanket or quilt from the bed
and get out the quickest way you can.
After calling help, look in and see
where and what Is the danger. You
can hen tell If it is best to try to car
ry out the household goods. If the
fire is on the first floor, it is very dan
gerous to go above, because the heat
and choking smoke go up.
"One can often get out through a
hall filed 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 flannel, or
eve a coat collar, over the mouth
greatly lessons the danger of injury to
the lungs, OF 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 reach.
ing the top the fire spreads and slowly
goes down, burning the wood that is
left.
IF 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 nearby; then
use a chemical extinguisher, il there
Is one.
IF one is in d burning building with
no fire escapes and the stair below is
burning, or the hall is filed with
smoke, he should shut the door and
transom to keep out the deadly gases.
Then he should throw open the win
dow and get cool air and to let the
tiremen and neighbors see where he
is, so that they may bring a ladder to
the window.
One should wait at the window I'M
til he is scorched or choking. BY that
time the firemen will be holding 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 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"