Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-08-05
Some Ways in Which II Mag
Happen and Hints on Action
When II 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 lnfiammable
material and as 1t never Is properly
ventilated it 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 IRE 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 Are spon-
taneously or from flying match head.
Sawdust used in sweeping floors, II
left In corner where there Is no cur.
rent Of air to carry or the heat It gem
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 dam
because inflammable materials may
hide there, and II fire starts In It the
best avenue Of escape from upper sto-
ries is cut Off. 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 II wet. Playing with
fire and matches by children is pro
life source of fires In residences.
How to- ExtInguish Flames.
Ones ability to extinguish start.
ing FIRE depends upon intelligence ana
self-control. 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 broom than
dashed on at once. A small fire may
be smothered with rug or blanket.
or beaten out with wet broom.
II you cannot put out the Are In D
minute then give an alarm at once.
Do not leave door open when you rum
out to give an alarm II the doors and
windows are closed when q fro starts.
you may be able to get the flremeni
there in time to put 1t out while 1t H.
in only one room. The fire soon con-
sumes all the oxygen in a closed rooma
and may die out II 1t gets no fresh air.
After the firemen are called work at
getting out the things you want most
to save Don't throw the clock froms
the window and then carry out your
clothing, as some persons have done.
II awakened In the night by the.
smell of fire don't Dress Wrap your
self in 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 ana
what is the danger. II the FIRE is on
the first floor 1t is very dangerous to
go above, because heat and smoke
ascend.
One can often get out through hall
filled with smoke by going on hands
and knees when one would fan choking
If one ran. The smoke Is thickest at
the ceiling. Holding a wet towel or
anything made of wool 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.
II 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 transom
, to keep out the gases Then he should
, throw open the window to get cool air
and to let the firemen and neighbors
, see where he is, so that they may bring
a ladder to the window.