Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-28
BLAZE PERIL
SEEN IN OLD
R 0 0 F s
Cummings Points Out Need of
More Caution by Citizens
in Winter.

In an effort to prevent the many
fires that imperil Atlanta homes in
the winter, Fire Chief Cummings, in
his annual report, will commend 20
the City Council the enactment of
an ordinance to Danish single roofs
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 shingle roof will
mean a wonderful decrease in the
number of fires and thereby relieve
the city of this constant menace.
Single roofs already are prohib-
tied within the fire limits, but Chief
Cummings said very few residences
are to be found in this district. Res
idences,- ne said, furnish the shingle-
roof peril and the great majority of
these lie without the fire limits.
Wants Fireproof Roofs.
1t is the Chiefs idea to supplant
the shingle roof with slate, tin or any
other non infiammable material. A
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, it will mean that just as
soon as a single roof becomes dilap-
idated or is in such condition as to
be a menace it must be torn away
and firep- Of roof substituted. All
new houses constructed after the law
went into effect would be provided
with fireproof roofing. Chief Cum
mings figures that within 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
minss.
Warning Is Issued.
"Other large cities have done away
with shingle 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 a 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.
At 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.