Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1913-12-17
CHRISTMAS FIRE DANGERS

Carelessness at Christmas time In
creases danger to life and property
The rapidly approaching Christmas
season brings grave fire hazards with
it. The flimsy materials used in
store decorations are of highly in
fammable nature, usually in close
proximity to kerosene, gas, acetylene
electric and other lights. Electic
lights properly safe-guarded are the
ideal light for decorative purposes,
but improper handling makes them a
decided fire menace Electric bulbs
should never be wrapped with tissue
paper or cloth for colored effects, as
the heat from a light of small calibre
will ignite if kept in contact with the
wrappings for short time.
The average Christmas tree offers
unusual opportunities for terrible
holocaust as the tree and trimmings
lighted with gaily colOred candles is
a veritable death trap. Churches,
halls and school houses where public
celebrations are held are usually
packed to suffocation and in many in
stances the aisles and other means
of exit are filed with people, making
escape almost impossible, but in any
event imperiling the lives of all who
attend. It has been truly said:
Do not decorate Christmas trees
with paper, cotton or any other in
flammable material - Use metallic
tinsel and other non-infammab1e dec
grafton only, and set the tree secure
ly so that the children in reaching
for things cannot tip it over.
Do not use cotton to represent
snow. If you must have snow use
asbestos fiber
Do not permit children to light or
re-ight the candles while parents are
not present
They frequently set fire to their
clothing instead.
The tree itself will. burn when
needles become dry.
Keep matches out of the reach of
children at the holiday time.
Candles are meant to be lighted
-s-1 If the children can get matches
they will experiment with them.
"A House of Merriment is better
than a house of Mourning"
The State Fire Marshal does not
wish to be understood as opposing
the proper celebration of the Christ,
mas season. The interest taken by
the public in its observance is com.
mendable, but every Christmas re-
cords many fires costing hundreds OF
lives and thousands of dollars worth
Of property which could have been
saved had proper care been used
Wherever possible electric lights in.
stalled by q competent electrician
should be used for the tree illuminat.
ing. Cotton isthe most common ma
f6rial used for tree decorating, it. is
also the most infammable and should
never be tolerated There is sub.
stance called mineral wool, made OF
asbestos, which gives better effect
and will not burn. Santa Claus wear
ing apparel makes him human
torch unless his outfit is dipped in a
solution of alum, which will make II
practically freproof. 49,,
If the people of Minnesota fully ap
preciate the dangers to which their
families are subjected at this season
they would give the Fire Mrashal ev
cry possible cooperation in carrying
out suggestions made to minimize
this danger.
Christmas dangers are all avoid
able, and carelessness has no excuse
especially where the lives of children
might be endangered. This is their
day and they should be enabled to
enjoy it in perfect safety.
Charles E. Keller,