Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-28
CUMMINGS
\NARNSOF FIRE
DANGERS
Points Out Need of More Caution
by Atlanta Citizens in
Winter.

In an effort to prevent the many
fires that imperll Atlanta homes III
TIE winter, Fire Chief Cummings, in
his annual report, will commend 20
the City Council the enactment Of
an ordinance to Danish single roots
from the city.
Chief Cummings Friday morning
declared that fully 60 per cent of At
lanta's fires are due to old, dilapi-
dated single roofs, which furnish
ready fuel for any spark that may
chance to fall on them.
The Chief is confident that the
elimination of the single roof will
mean a wonderful decrease in the
number of fires and thereby relieve
the city of this constant menace.
Shingle roofs already are prohtb-
tied within the f1re limits, but Chief
Cummings said very few residences
are to be found in this district Res
licences, he said, furnish the shingle-
roof peril, and the great majority of
these lie without the fire limits,
wants fifeproof Hoots'
1t is the Chiefs idea to supplapt
the shingle roof with slate, tin or any
other non -inf1amma Bile material. \
strong fight will be made to get this
ordinance through the City Council in
the first part of the year.
Should this plan be incorporated
into law, 1t will mean that just as
soon as a shingle roof becomes dllap-
dated or is in such condition. as TO
be a menace it must be torn away
and a firep If roof substituted. All
new houses constructed after the law
went into effect would be provided
with fireproof roofing. Chief Cum
mings figures that within a compara-
lively short time all homes in the city
would have fireproof coverings.
This would reduce the danger of
fire to a minimum" said Chief Cum
mings.
Warning 10 Issued.
Other large cities have done away
with single roofs and thereby en-
HANGED the safety of their homes, and
there is no reason why Atlanta should
not do it. We have hundreds of old
shingle roofs in Atlanta, and they
stand as a constant peril. Whenever
sparks fall on them the old shingles
| become ignited and we have a fire,
sometimes a disastrous fire. These
| shingle roofs form one of the great
est causes of fire we have in Allan.
! ia, and as a matter of self protec-
| ton we should move in this matter at
once"
Discussing the FIRE danger, Chief
| Cummings issued warning to At
| lantans to use the greatest care about
their homes and places of business in
| the winter, as a preventive of fires,
Furnaces and CRATES should be
carefully inspected at night before
the jewellers in a home retire" said
the chief. MANY of our fires are due
| to Carelessness along this line. Fur
naces should not be overheated and
| care should be used to see that too
much coal Is not piled in CRATES at
night.
Grass Fires Menace.
Great caution also should be used
| to prevent grass fires. II was just
few days ago that we had eight
! grass fires in one day and in one
| instance three houses were burned.
| 1t is important that dead grass and
! leaves be cleared out of yards and
vacant lots as quickly as possible.
with the elimination of single
roofs, and the use of greater care on
| the part of citizens, am satisfied we
would have fewer fires"
With the view of reducing the dan
ger from fire Sanitary Chief John
| Jentzen has instructed his force TO
| have all dead grass and leaves re-
moved at once from yards and lots.
| This action was taken following a
| conference with Chief Cummings on
! the fire situation.