Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-06-24
Some Ways in Which 1t May
Happen and Hints on Action
When 1t Does.
HOW TO EXTINGUIsH FLAME.
CONGREGATIONS at Night and the
Best Methods of Escape From
Burning Buildings.

Attics and closets are the breeding
places Of many fires, according to Good
housekeeping. An attic is generally
the asylum for all sorts of infiammahle
material, and as 1t never is properly
ventilated II becomes fire incubator
when the summer sun strikes the roof
Among the odds and ends that make
up the contents Of the average attic
are old vanished furniture, dry as tin
der; rags, many Of them greasy and
ripe for spontaneous combustion;
painting oils, liable to take fire when
the sun beats on the roof: broken toys
and old clothes. the pockets of which
may contain matches. Attics and gar
rets often have temperature of ITO
degrees Fahrenheit, which is the igni-
ton point for matches.
Floor sweepings under furniture or
IN closet are liable to take fire spon-
taneously or from a flying match head.
sawdust used in sweeping floors, il
left IN corner where there is no cur.
rent Of air to carry of the heat it gen
crates, is very likely to become hot
enough to ignite itself. Greasy over
alls kept in a tight wardrobe have
been known to ignite The most dan.
gerous closet Is that under stairway
because inhammable materials may
hide there, and II a fire starts in 1t the
best avenue of escape from upper sto
ries is cut of Furnace ashes in the
cellar have In them so much fine coal
and litter that they are liable to spon
taneOus combustion II an open window
permits them to get wet by rain
storm. The fine coal from the winters
supply may ignite If wet Playing with
FIRE and matches by children is a pro
life source of fires in residences.
Row to- Exttnguiah Flames.
Ones ability to extinguish a start
ing fire depends upon intelligence and
self-contFol. If the blaze is just start
ing throw water on the burning mate
rial, not on the blaze. One bucket OF
water will do more good II 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.
IL you cannot put out the fire in {
minute then give an alarm at once
Do not leave door open when you ruI
out to give an alarm. II the doors ant
windows are closed when fire start
you may be able to get the firemeI
there in time to put it out while It /!
In only one room. The fire soon con
sumes all the oxygen in a closed room
and may die out II It gets no fresh air
After the firemen are called work a
getting out the things you want mos
to save Don't throw the clock from
the window and then carry out you
clothing. as some persons have done.
II awakened In the night by tbs
smell OF fire don't dress Wrap your
self in a blanket or quilt from the bee
and get out the quickest way you can
Shut the doors you pass through, Aftel
calling help look In and see where ant
what is the danger. II the fire is OF
the first floor it is very dangerous Il
go above, because heat and smoke
ascend
One can often get out through a hal
filed with smoke by going on hands
and knees when one would fall choking
II one ran. The smoke is thickest al
the ceiling. Holding a wet towel oil
anything made of wool or even coat
collar over the mouth greatly lessons
the danger of injury to the lungs OF
death from the carbonie acid gas IN the
smoke
If a man is in burning building
with no fire escape and the stair below
is burning or the hall filled with smoke
he should shut the door and transon
to keep out the gases. Then he should
throw open the window to get cool air
and to let the firemen and neighbsrs
see where he is. so that they may Bring
a ladder to the window.