The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-30
State Sets Aside October 8 to
Study Prevention.
Clear Away Rubbish and Re-
pair All Chimneys.
SUGGESTIONS BY PARkMAN
Means of Removing Hazards
Are Pointed Out.
Cities. Fire Chiefs and Schools
Will Aid Work.


great Chicago fire in 1871 has been SCI
aside fire prevention day in Kansas
Harrison Parkham, state fire mar
shall. The state fire marshal depart
ment urges that the day be devoted to
clearing away all rubbish and leaves
from around buildings in both country
and cities: to removing trash from the
alleys and the rear of stores; to in
specting and repairing fiues and chin
neyS ard to making premises sale from
danger of fire.
Fire chiefs are asked to make a spec
ial inspection of their towns on that
day and to suggest needed changes 10
remedy fire hazards. Mayors are re-
Quested to cooperate with the state
and the country as whole by issuing
proclamations calling for special OBJ
servance and in giving any directions
that they may consider will produce
most effective results in the way OF
lessening fire dangers.
Superntendents and teachers are re-
minded that fire prevention day would
be a most suitable time to place par
ticular emphasis upon the fire loss IN
Kansas as outlined in the fire proven
ton bulletin that has been supplied all
superintendent for distribution to the
schools under their jurisdiction.
"A discussion OF this and related sub
jects, together with a practical appllca-
ton by removing any trash from the
school grounds would be fitting OBJ
servance of the day" is the suggestion
sent out by the state fire marshal.
Suggestions by Fire Marshal.
In making his suggestions for the day
Harrison Parkman says:
The approach of winter when pumps
and water taps freeze suggests the IN
stallation of fire protection on the farm.
Every household should be equipped
with a fire bucket provided with
or
no other purpose. One such bucket, at
least should be provided on every floor
of the house or barn. To overcome the
danger of freezing add to eacn bucket
of water little more than two pounds
of fused calcium chloride. This vii.
prevent freezing at temperatures above
zero.
When the stoves are put up this fall
great fire hazards may be removed or
materially lessened by care in the mat
ter of a number of details. Following
are some suggestions that may prevent
a disastrous fire:
1. The floor under the stove should
always be protected by tin, zinc, or
asbestos, extending out about two feet
from the doors of the stove.
> The stove should be placed two
and one-half feet from the wall, but
if it is necessary for it to be placed
closer a metal sheet should be hung
against the wall as a protection The
sheet should be hung on hooks leaving
a half inch space between 1t and the
wall so that the air can circulate, thus
preventing the heat from the metal
sheet from charring the wall.
8 Chimneys and stovepipes should
be cleaned at least once year. The
brick chimney at the top of the house
should be cleaned with a long scraper
and the chimney hole where the pipe
enters should also be cleaned once
year.
4. stovepipes should be scraped so
that if there are any rusty spots or
holes they will be discovered and the
pipe replaced with new.
s. A stovepipe should not run
through a wood partition or ceiling
unless a metal collar protects the |
wood. |
6. If the pipe is long horizontally |
it should be wired so that there is no !
danger of it falling down large
number of fires every winter are |
caused by the stovepipe falling down.
:. If a stovepipe runs along under |
the ceiling for any distance, it should |
not be closer than two feet from the
ceiling.
S. Fires are most numerous during
the winter months and most of them
can be traced to carelessness in regard
to heating stoves This carelessness
is caused by not properly cleaning
stoves to become overheated, by using
cracked or broken stoves, by not
properly protecting floor, walls and
ceiling near stoves. and by leaving
garments hanging near stoves
Crime of Arson.
The state fire marshal department
and the state superintendent of insur-
ance are trying to lessen the incentive
of the insured person to burn his prop
erty to get the insurance If oYer-in-
surance is stopped, it cannot help but |
lessen the number of incendiarv fires
because it does away with the temEta-
ton of an owner to burn his property
to get the insurance. Most fires of IN
cendiary origin that have occurred
since the state fire marshal department
was organized last April can be traced
to the desire on the part of some one
to collect insurance. A proposition has
been made to the insurance companies
to fix an insurance value on each piece
of property in the state and not to per-
NIT local agents to insure above this
value, which is to be filed in the Office
of superintendent of insurance
The number of incendiary fires
charged to a desire to collect insur-