Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-13
PREVENTING FOURTH FIRES
Fire Commissioner Johnson Anxious
to Prevent Them.
ISSUES LETTER TO THE PUBLIC
Hopes to Awaken Men. Women and
Children to Need of PrecautiOn
Democrats and Normal
School.
(From a staff Correspondent)

LINCOLN, June 12-(Special)-A. V.
Johnson, fire commissioner, is anxious to
prevent loss of life and property by reason
of the celebration of July 4. To that end
he has issued the following statement:
ION July 4, 1909. the loss by fire directly
traceable to fireworks amounted to $4,000.
II every property owner and every parent
could be persuadade to pay some attention
to this important matter. giving to their
employees, their tenants, their neighbors or
their children timely warning as to the
protection Of property from Fourth Of July
loss, the loss of 1910 would undergo notice
able decrease.
1T is the special business of the Ne
braska Fire commission to impress upon
the general public facts that will tend to
awaken men, women and children to the
Importance of protecting property from loss
through fire. In anticipation, therefore,
Of the general celebration throughout Ne
braska July T. the Nebraska Fire commits
sion respectfully submits to the people of
this state these suggestions
''First-In the effort to preserve life and
protect property the place for the authori-
ties TO begin is with the sellers of fire
works Ordinances and laws prohibiting
the sale Of the more dangerous variety of
fireworks may be enforced more readily
than orders seeking to regulate or prohibit
their use after they have been sold Strict
supervision by authorities over places
where fireworks are being disposed of and
notice to dealers that the law will be en-
forced to the letter will reduce the fire loss
to the minimum.
'Second-Small children should not be
permitted by their parents or guardians to
handle fireworks or matches.
"Third-All persons using matches or
punk or lighted firecrackers should be care
| full to see that these do no tcontain fire
ana when they are thrown away they
should not be thrown in the vicinity of
inflammable material
BE WatchfuI at Night.
'"Fourth-Where fire works are exploded
in the evening particular care should he
taken that the place from which thew ar,
discharged is clear of any debris or in.
flamable material and that the locality
In which the sparks or lights are lkel,
to fall is free from buildings that might
be destroyed.
'Fifth-The toy balloon" is most danger
Gus so far as property is concerned Il
TINS cannot be abolished altogether 4
should not be permitted to be sent M
after the geenral public has retired 70,
the night
'Sixth-All cellar ways, fence corner,
and places where waste paper or old rub
Dish accumulates should be given a clean
ing up before July 4, Where it is Impos
sioie to clean up entirely, the premises
should be given thorough drenching 8,
there VIII be no danger of any lighte,
article carelessly thrown starting a blaze
'SeVenth-The rnaVors of sayaraI ot,,-
have already commenced a systematl
campaign looking to the prevention OF fir
loss on July T. Their good example oupb
to be followed by the authorities of ever,
city and village in the state. PROMPT ac
tion should be taken by these authoritie,
and they should vigorously push their ef
forts to enforce the common sense ruI,
] CONTINUED on Second PareN