Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-06-16
HOW TO ACTIN CASE OF FIRE
Some Ways in which n Bianc Is Iikcl,
to BE started.


Attics and closets are the breeding
places of many fires. An attic is gem
orally the asylum for all sorts of nflam-
mable material. and as II never is prop
erly ventilated it becomes "A fire incuba-
tor 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 finder
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 Garrets often have a temDera-
ture of 10 degrees Fahrenheit. which is
the ignition point for matches
Floor sweepings under furniture or in
n closet are liable to take fire spontan-
eousiy or from a flying match head
Sawdust used in sweeping floors, If left
In a corner where there is no current Of
air TO carry Off the heat it generates
is very likely to become hot enough 10 ic-
mite itself.
A preparation advertised for sweeping
carpets Is composed OF sawdust., sand
and mineral oil to give IL color togo. n
or with tincture of benzine 10 give IL
odor Fires have frequently started
spontaneously from heaps of this ma
terial. Greasy overalls kept IN tight
wardrobe have been known to ignite.
The most dangerous closet il that un-
der stairway, because inNammable ma
terials may hide there. and if a fire starts
In it the best avenue of escape from M
per stories is cut off.
Furnace ashes in the cellar have in
them so much fine coal and litter that
they are liable to spontaneous comhus-
ton il an open window permits them 10
get wet by a rain storm. The fine coal
from the winters supply may ignite IL
wet.
Playing with fire and matches by chill
dren is prolific source OF fires in resi-
dences
Ones ability 10 cxtinguish starting
fire depends upon intelligence and self
control. II tho blaze is Just starting
throw water on the burning material. not
on the blaze. one bucket OF water will
do more good if thrown on ny handfus
or with broom than dashed on at once
small fire may he smothered with a
rug or blanket. or beaten out with a wet
broom.
II you cannot put out the fire in
minute then give an alarm at once Do
rot leave a door open when Won run out
TO give an alarm II the doors and win
dows are closed when n fire starts you
may be able to get the hrc,nen there in
time to put ii out while It is in only one
room. The fire soon consumes all the
oxygen IN closed room and may die out
If 1t gets no fresh air
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 is the danger
II the fire is on the first floor IL Is very
dangerous to so above. because heat and
smoke ascend.
One can often get out through a hall
filled with smoke by going on rands and
knees when one would fall choking II
one ran. The smoke Is thickest at the
ceiling. Holding wet towel or any
thing made Of wool, or even a coat collar
over tho mouth greatly lessons the dan
ger OF injury to the lungs or death from
the carbonic acid gas IN the smoke.
If II man is In a burning building with
no fire escape and the stair below Is
burning or the hall filled with smoke. he
should shut the door and trausom to keep
out the gases Then he should throw
open the window to get cool air and to
let the hremen and neighbors see where
no IL. SO that they may bring a ladder
to the window. 4