Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-26
BIC DECREASE
IN FIRE LOSS
Report Shows Only Three Large
Fires in City During
Year.

Matches as usual We're shown as
the cause of most of the fires in New
ark since last January according to
figures of C. Albert Gasser, inspector
of combustibles and fire risks. Twen-
ty-six deaths were caused by fire,
nineteen of the number being chill
dren. Twelve of that number died as
result of the careless use of matches.
The twelve children ranged In age
from one to seven years. OF the seven
other little ones burned to death four
were victims of bonfires. Two cas-
ualties were the result of some one
pouring kerosene on stoves. and one
by clothing catching fire from a
match left burning by another per-
son.
OF the seven adults burned to
death. three cases were reported as
having been caused by fires started
In kitchen stoves with kerosene; an
other by an oil lamp exploding. Still
another by bonfire, and one by q
moving picture film catching fire. In
addition to these casualties. forty
persons were more or less seriously
injured and burned.
been three large fires in Newark to
date. They were: The storage ware
house of e. A Kirch & Co., on Janu-
ary %; the Public Service Railroad
Companys barn in Bergen street on
january 25; and the plant of the. New
Jersey Sash and Door Company at
Sixteenth avenue and South Seventh
street on the night of March 10.
The department has answered 1903
f,l, fTan dnA H4-0f
alarms, 10 seconds, third, / fourth,
800 still and 164 false alarms, since
January l. The total estimated dam
age from all of the fires amounted to
only 1888, All, as against $1,097, 555. DO in
1912, making a drop of $500
The sKireh fire is credited with the
greatest loss. This fire broke out early
in the morning and the damage
amounted TO So, 1886. Nearby build
ings were threatened and the firemen
were compelled to turn in four alarms.
In the big blaze of the Public Service
car barn, which further resulted in
the loss of several adjoining build
ings, making eight families homeless,
the damage was $44,743.
The other large fire In the New Jer-
sey Sash and Door Company's plant
caused a loss of $4,000, owing to the
fire spreading to large three-story
dwelling nearby. An hour before this
fire broke out n fire was discovered
in the factory of the Hudson Hat
Company, and before it was extin-
guished the lumber fire was discov-
cred, the result being that for a short
time every piece of fire apparatus in
the city was called into use. The
damages In the hat fire only amount
ed to $4,000.
Fires occurring during the month
of January caused the greatest finan-
cial loss, 1t being estimated at 1884, 900
for 1925 fires reported. In February
1877 fires occurred, causing a loss of
1913, 800, while during March there
were 131 fires with a loss of $66020.
April had 100 fires, and losses of $751;
$50. During May there We're 1876 fires
discovered, with a loss totaling $751;,
$3.50. June fires numbered 143, with
a loss of S56,500. There were 143 fires
in July, loss $26.740. August Is cred
tied with a loss of $25,420 from 122
fires. One hundred and twenty three
fires were discovered In September,
with loss of $500
Fires in October numbered liz, with
a loss totaling $685., While November
had 141 fires and a loss of $18,073.50.
In the report of Secretary Charles
s. Smith 1t was shown that five new
companies had been organized so far
this year, bringing the total number
up to thirty nine. There are 1922
MIGRANTS In the city at the present
time, or hundred more than last
year. Also sixteen new fire-alarm
boxes have been installed during the
year, bringing the total up to 52s,