The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-01-19

Here Is advice from an insurance
man as to what to do in case of fire in
your home and as to precautions to
take against fire. Considering the
dangers and the frequent occurrence of
| fires In dwelling houses he says it Is
amazing how little thought Is given to
fire prevention in general and to the
prompt extinguishing OF small fires in
private residences in particular. Few
homes possess even the most primitive
| facilities for quickly putting out fire.
! Water is the best Of fire extinguish-
ers, but the water must be at hand in
a readily available receptacle. Buckets
specially constructed with rounded
bottoms-this feature to lessen the
chance of the buckets being utilized for
household purposes-filled with water
and placed on a suitable shelf, prefer
ably in the kitchen. are the cheapest
and most convenient fire extinguishers.
A bucket of water will do more good
thrown on blaze with dipper or with
broom than dashed on at once.
| Smother an oil fire with wet rags.
| cloth, sand, ashes or flour. A little
water thrown on burning oil will ag-
gravate the fire.
Defective fiues and stovepipes, over
heated stoves, open freplaces. max ed
| gas Jets and carelessness with matches
and inflammable oils are prolific causes
Of fires in private houses. II there are
ilues or stovepipes in your home see
| they are clear of woodwork and free
from cracks. An open fireplace should be
protected with wire screen. Open
| fires make an upward draught of air
from the room, and this draught will
draw light material into the flames IL
II comes near enough
Protect all woodwork above or be-
side stove or gas jet with sheets Of
asbestos or tin. Use rigid gas fixtures.
IL swinging gas bracket is necessary,
| always use globe so that the flame
may not come in contact with combust-
| tble material.
When you smell gas in the house
open the doors and windows first then
look for the leak; but iYever use lamp,
candle or lighted match to find it.
Leaks in gas pipes may be temporarily
stopped with soap. 1t the leak is not
| found, send for plumber.
| The dangers from carelessness with
parlor matches are numerous. When
| scratched the head often explodes, or
the stick breaks and the flaming head
| flies off to set fire to any inflammable
material 1t drops on, the clothing of
women and children included. Matches
left lying around where children can
reach them or where they may be
blown or brushed off to the ground
may cost dear.
Don't light matches In dark closets
filled with hanging clothes. Matches
should be kept in a metal receptacle,
and not distributed Unfortunately
through the house. Use safety matches.
They are just as cheap and far less
dangerous than the parlor match
| II II should be your MISFORTUNE to
have a fire in your home try to keep
O. cool head. II the blaze Is just start
Ing, throw water on the burning sub
stance. not at the blaze. II you cannot
extinguish the fire at once yell "Fire!"
and then call the firemen. Make your
self familiar with the fire department
call in your immediate neighborhood.
Do not leave a door open when you
run to give the alarm. If the doors and
windows are closed when fire starts