Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-01-04
STOPPING THE
FIRE WASTE.
How to Lessen the Loss Of
Life and Property
CARELEssNEsS TO BLAME,
Rubbish Filled Cellars, Halls and Yards
the Chief Menace-PeopIe Arc Alto.
sether Too Indifferent-Not So In
Europe.

Europe.
Fire waste in the United States and
Canada is about ten times that of
western Europe, says Powell Evans in
the Survey. 1t averages broadly $780,
100000 yearly. with $3.50, 100000 added
expense for protective measures imper.
atively demanded by this great, contin.
uous and increasing loss.
If all buildings burned last year in
the United States were placed together
on both sides Of a street they would
make an avenue Of %desolation reach
ing from Chicago to New York.
This fire loss averages So per capita
in America each year as against 30
cents in Europe. About two-thirds of
this waste in life and property in this
country could easily be avoided by
means similar to those employed in
western Europe. where the loss is
about one-tenth of ours.
There are certain conditions in these
foreign countries that operate to eff
feet q lower fire loss than would rea-
sonably be possible here, viz, the
larger use of noncombustible mate
riats, due to the higher cost Of wood:
better building codes. in letter and in
practice; the lower height and smaller
areas involved in city construction,
and. finally. the Intangible influence of
older civilizations. which makes peo-
pie more careful of small savings tn all
their affairs and generally eau
tious than we have yet become.
Allowing duly for these fundamental
differences between the countries com
pared, it is yet apparent THAT the differ
ence in fire loss in the United States
over that of the principal western Eft
ropean countries is outrageously and
criminally greater than it should be.
and this condition must arise largely
inhabitants. Ignorance. carelessness
and the Indifference of this country's
Inhabitants. Ignorance, carelessness,
or isolated self interest, when they
result in the tremendous sacrifice of
life and property now habitually &C.
curing among US from this n cause;
become nothing less than criminal. -,
1t has been argued by some that So
far in u national development the
total gain to national wealth arising
from the permissible construction of
buildings below the desirable standard
Of fire resistance thus enabling men
with limited capital to engage in bust
ness operations without undue expen-
diture on property has been greater
than if too restrictive building laws
had been operative. There may have
been some merit i'm this argument ap-
piled to times and conditions which
have passed. but we should now I'M
q~uestionably, on the evidence before
us, begin to enforce in our cities. and
enforce rigidly, a higher standard Of
fire preventive bWilding construction.
protection and occupancy. In many
European cities a fire is held substan-
tally q crime. aDd the owner of the
property where it occurs. regardless
Of size, must report the facts to the
authorities and may be penalized.
Reference has several times been
made to the terms of construction, pro-
lection and occupancy Of buildings:
Construction covers the form and COM
plete specifications Of the building itself
and embraces the height Of structure, the
fire control areas. the elimination of con-
cealed spaces and exposed vertical open
ings and generally Of avenues for the
spread of flames within the building: the
character, form and strength Of materi-
ais. the elimination of such as are in
kl@ -~~,,;s-- 30 G->--~~P -@~q
ing and wire glass in safe metal frames
and generally determines all details Of the
nature, amount and form of materials
that will endure for the use intended n
under possible heat and water exposure
caused by confagratien.
Protection.-Next in Importance to the
nature Of the building itself for limiting
successfully comprises the risk Of fire Ell
Their within or without comes the problem
Of %equipping it properly to give the alarm
and to e~xtinguish fire if it occurs. The
automatic sprinkler is the most important
Of these agents and an absolute essential
for low rat. insurance for buildings and
contents. 1t has become a legal require
ment In many states in theaters and 9TH
er buildings for large assemblages and for
dangerous parts of hotels, and it's use
should certainly become obligatory in all
cellars in congested city areas and in all
buildings, including those used for Offices
of height beyond successful control of fire
streams from the ground.
Occupancy.-This term covers two sub
~jects-frst. the nature of any business.
and. second. the manner in which any
business is conducted. This last meaning
is best expressed by the term house
keeping as applied to the home or the
factory. 1t covers the whole rationale OF
thoughtful. thrifty and clearly living in
buildings SO as not uselessly to cause fire
For example. rubbish filled cellars, halls
and adjacent yards were. according tt
former Fire Chief Croker, responsible FOL
1900 out Of 1900 fires in New York city IL
1907. Last year in Chicago 1000 fires wer'
directly traceable to the use and abuse O.
, the match. Uncovered lights near cur
tains are a cause Of a constant series O
! fires, easily and cheaply removable b!
means Of wire globes. Defective fue
cause 13 per cent of all fires Throughout
the country. nearly so per cent Of tn
fires in buildings in the south arisinI
a from this cause.
The term occupancy includes not onl
the many things one should not do. blu
the things that should be done. such a
systematic fire drills in schools and fac
tories which will insure that in tho out