The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-04-05
InAammable and Combustible Mater
ials are Good Food for
Sparks.
GREASY RAGS ARE DANGEROUS
May Become Slightly Heated Any
Time and Cause Spontaneous
Combustion.

G.. E.. Keller, state fire marshal, has
written the papers of the state ask
ing that they cooperate with his de-
partment by publishing a "clean-up"
letter.
Mr.. Keller further says that his
department is working more to pre-
vent fires than to trace causes after
the blaze. Following is his letter:
cat this season of the year, nature
is about to put on her most beautiful
garb. GARD, The people generally
realize the necessity of putting their
premises in order. The figures fur
nished by fire statistics of 1911 en-
phatically indicate the necessity of
CLEANING UP. $780, 900 would not
make good the fire loss in Minnesota
in 1911 caused by carelessness in
connection with the annual cleanup.
'This cleaning sheald extend<asronl1
cellar to garnet, from isuse to OUT
buildings, alleys anaassafd DIS. IL a. dyirgs
spark lodging, a lighted match or a.
live cigar or cigarette stub thrown
carelessly into rubbish in or outside
of buildings has caused many disas-
ferrous fires. The chore boy may care
lessly throw a match or cigar or Gig
arctic stub into the rubbish sur
rounding barns or in barns; the clerk
may throw either into the rubbish
of the basement of business blocks
where paper, excelsior and other
packing material are often allowed
to accumulate; the thoughtless pass
er-by may throw a cigar or cigarette
stub through the grating in the side
walk into the dust and filth below
Perhaps we cannot prevent the
people from carelessly throwing
matches or cigars, but we can pre-
vent the accumulation of combust-
ibles and inflammable materials, if
we will.
'In this cleaning up of premises
attics should no be forgotten. In
them dust and spider webs accumu-
late and all sorts of infammable stuff
is stored away. Attics are too often
without ventilation. Thus, when the
fierce summer sun beats down upon
the roof, the attic becomes a veri-
table furnace and spontaneous COM
bustion occurs in the rubbish, dust,
oil oh xy nicho nj of
furniture, etc.
''Spring is the painting season and
a caution as to the handling. and
storing of rags used in wiping var
nished or oily surface or wiping
paint from the painters hands is
timely. The only safe place for such
greasy rags is in the stove. If kept
for any length of time to be used
again, they should be stored in a
substantial, covered, iron receptacle.
MANY fires are started each year
by the careless burning of the rub
bish accumulated in yards and alleys
during the winter. The burning OF
this rubbish is too often left to the
children, which annually not only
costs large number of lives or ser
ious injury, but result in the total
destruction of many thousand dollars
of property.
"The people of Minnesota are be-
ginning to take an active interest
i'll the idea of prevention of fire waste
and there is no greater opportunity
for them to do effective work along
this line than in thoroughly clean
ing their premises both inside and
out and the proper handling of the
refuse accumulated therefrom.
"City and village authorities anG
boards of health are requested tt
cooperate with the Minnesota state
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