The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1910-09-02
Some Ways In Which II May
Happen and Hints on Action
When 1t Does.
HOW TO ExTINGUIsH FLAME.
Confagrations 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 infammable
material, and as it never Is properly
ventilated 1t becomes a 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-
tion point for matches.
Floor sweepings under furniture or
In closet are liable to take fire 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 off the heat 1t 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 dan
gerous closet Is that under stairway,
because infammable materials may
hide there, and If fire starts in 1t 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 If 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 pro
life source Of fires in residences. III
How to Extinguish Flames.
Ones ability to extinguish a start
ing fire depends upon intelligence and
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 If 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 fire In
minute then give an alarm at once.
Do not leave door open when you run
out to give an alarm. II the doors and
windows are closed when fire starts
you may be able to get the firemen
there in time to put 1t out while 1t is
in only one room. The fire soon con-
sumes 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.
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 and
what is the danger. If 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 a hall
filled with smoke by going on hands
and knees when one would fall choking
If one Sran. The smoke Is thickest at
the ceiling Holding wet towel or
anything made of wool or even 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 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.