The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-07-13
in CASE OF FIRE
Some Ways II May Happen and How
to Act When It Does.

SoH1o ways u way noPPcH a"u TS"
to Act When It Does.
Attics and closets are the breeGins
places Of many fires. An attic is gen
orally the asylum for all sorts of in
fammable 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
tinder, 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 tempera-
ture Of 110 degrees Fahrenheit, which
is the ignition point for matches.
Floor sweepings under furniture or
in a closet are liable 10 take fire
spontaneously or from flying match
head. Sawdust used in sweeping floors,
If left in a corner where there is no
generates, is very likely to become
hot enough to ignite itself.
A preparation advertised for sweep
ing carpets is composed of sawdust,
sand and a mineral oil to give it COL
or, together with tincture of benzine
to give it odor, according to Good
Housekeeping. Fires have frequently
started spontaneously from heaps of
this material. Greasy overalls kept in
a tight wardrobe have been known to
ignite.
The most dangerous closet is that
under stairway, because infiammable
materials may hide there and If fire
starts in it the best avenue or escape
from upper stories is cut off.
Furnace ashes In the cellar have in
| them so much fine coal and litter that
they are liable to spontaneous com
bustion 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 a prolific source Of fires
| in residences.
Ones ability to extinguish a start
ing fire depends upon intelligence and
self-control. If the blaze is just start
| ing throw water on the burning ma
terial, 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 a door open when you
run out to give an alarm. II the doors
and windows are closed when nre
starts you may be able to get the
fremen there in time to put 1t out
while 1t Is in only one room. The
fire soon consumes all the oxygen in
a closed room and may die out IL 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
from the window and then carry out
your clothing, as some persons have
done.
IL awakened in the might by the
smell of fire don't dress. Wrap your
self In a blanket or quilt from the
bed and get out the quickest way yot
can. Shut the doors you pass through
After calling help look In ans sec
where and what is the danger. II tht
fire Is ON the first floor 1t Is very
dangerous 10 go above, because hea
and smoke ascend
One can often get out through
hall filled with smoke by going oi
hands and knees when one would fal
choking II one ran. The smoke Il
thickest at the ceiling. Holding we
towel or anything made Of wool, o.
even a coat collar over the moutl
greatly lessons the danger OF inJur!
to the lungs or death from the car
bonic acid gas in the smoke.
II a man is in burning building
with no fire escape and the stair be
low is burning or the hall filled VIII
smoke. he should shut the door ant
transom to keep out the. gases. TheI
he should throw open the window Il
get cool air and to let the firemen ant
ueighbors see where he Is, so tha
they may bring ladder to the win
dow.