The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-10-02
fire Prevention In
North Dakota

Friday, October 9th, is to be observ-
ed in North Dakota as Fire Proven
ton Day.
To this end Governor Hanna has
signifled his intention of cooperating
with the state fire marshaps depart
ment in focusing the attention of
North Dakota for one day, at least, on
the subject of fire prevention by is
suing proclamation to the people of
the state.
Governor Hannas proclamation has
been issued and all good citizens Of
of the state are asked to help make
the day a success. This same day has
been and will be observed as Fire
Prevention Day in many other states,
and from now on it is hoped that the
day will be regularly observed each
year in this state.
An appeal is made to the people of
North Dakota to inspect their fur
naces and flues on that day, so that
conditions which might later result in
fire may be ascertained and RENE
died. An inspection on Fire Proven
ton Day before the furnace has been
lighted for the winter nay prevent
great losses.
The people of North Dakota are
also asked to correct other hazardous
conditions. They are asked to remove
rubbish that has collected in cellars,
out-houses and attics during the sum.
mer, and in general to cleanup"
Friday, October 9th, is the anniver-
sary of the great Chicago fire and for
that reason the date is peculiarly ap-
propriate.
The tidy housewife ID the worst en-
envy the fire waste has in the country
districts. There are no statistics
showing how many fires good house
keeping has prevented, but II is esti-
mated that ten millions have been
in country dwellings and other build
ings. Most fires can be charged to
carelessness of one sort or another.
Carelessness, however, does not fig
ure in tidy housekeeping. The wo-
man who keeps her cupboards clean
and refuses to allow rubbish of any
sort to accumulate in any out of the
way nook or Granny Of her house has
little to fear from fire.
Following are some of the causes
of fire: adjoining fires, ashes against
wood, burning rubbish, carelessness
with matches, children playing with
matches, chimney SCOT burning, de.
fective fues, gasoline explosion, hot
iron, incendiary. kerosene lamps and
stoves, sparks from chimneys, sparks
from locomotives, lightning and spon-
taneous combustion.
The records in the office of the fire
marshal for the past four months
show a total Of 224 fires, entailing a
loss of property amounting to one mil
lion dollars. How much of this was
Some experts declare
that 60 per cent of the fire loss is
needless.
A study of the fire marshall reports
as to the number and cause of fire
will satisfy any thinking person that
rates are largely within the making
and control Of the insuring public.
is given as the cause of
most of the fires of preventable ma
ture. Defective fues. rubbish, oily
rags, old cracked cooking and heating
stoves defective electric wiring grease
stoves, defective electric wiring, care
less burning of grass. trash weeds
and leaves in the yards and about the
premises, cigar and cigarette stumps
thrown away while they
are lighted are among the common
causes Of fires which are preventable
Sparks and shingle roofs add their
quota, and communicating fires help
out the list But little intelligent
care on the part Of the public will re-
duce the fire loss and property dam
age, and incidentally REFUGE the in
surance rate.