The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-19
FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE
Will Cost Insurance Companies
$14,S96 to Maintain.

1t Will cost the fire insurance COM
panies doing business in Kansas just
Sl4 1896 to maintain the new fire mar
ShaGS office this year. The fire mar
shall law provides that an assessment
| OF not to exceed one per cent of the
premiums of the fire insurance COM
panies may be levied to cover the cost
of maintaining this new state depart
ment- State Fire Marshal Harrison
Parkman today ordered a levy of
B .2S25 of one per cent of the net pre-
mlums. This levy will raise just
, $14,S9G.
The new fire marshal law has many
provisions which for a time at least
may cause grief and sorrow for the
fire chiefs, city officials and even the
township officers. Even the property
owners will probably share in the gen
eral distribution of trouble before the
new office is open to the public an
entire year.
Every fire in Kansas must be re-
ported promptly to the fire marshal.
Those reports must be made promptly,
too In a city where a paid fire de-
partnent is maintained, the report
shall be made by the fire chief. Cities
which do not maintain a salaried
crew of fire fighters, must also re-
port; but the responsibility in those
towns rests on the shoulders of the
mayor. In the country districts, the
reports must be made by the town
ship clerk or trustee.
These reports must give a detailed
account OF the DlaZe- 1t must be
shown when the fire occurred, how it
originated, the loss, insurance, owner
of properties, liens if any; and above
all complete information concerning
any possible indication of incendiar-
ism. In towns like Topeka, Wichita,
Leavenworth and Kansas City, Kan,
daily reports will be required, unless
there should fail to be a fire each day.
For each satisfactory report filed
with the fire marshal. unless the re-
No irc off ini nj no la sn6 Oh
the marshal must remit fifty cents.
AS there were about 10000 fires in
Kansas in 1912. according to the fig
ures which Parkman has compiled,
these reports would cost the state
about SO, 600 a year. But Parkman
figures that the majority of these
fires were in the larger towns and for
these reports the state will not be
compelled to pay.
Each report which shows a posi-
bility of an incendiary blaze. will be
investigated by the fire marshals of
flee. The law provides that with the
county attorney the fire marshal may
hold inquisitions and take sworn tes-
timony concerning any fire. This in
formation gathered in the inquisition
court. may be used in the ultimate
prosecution of a criminal action.
Will Investigate Old Cases.
Not only has the fire marshal auth
GRITTY to investigate fires which may
occur after his office was created, but
he may inquire into any fire which
has occurred within the two years set
by the statutes of limitations One of
these old cases is now occupying the
attention of the fire marshal. This
fire occurred several weeks ago, but
there is sufficient Indication of the ex-
istence of q fire bug to warrant an In
quiry. If evidence sufficient to war
rant arrests develop, it is proba bic
that the first prosecutions under the
new law will be for a fire which oc-
CURED before the fire marshaIs office
was created.
While the thousands of fires in
Kansas each year must be investigated
by the fire marshals office, that Of
ficial's work does not stop there. The
law gives him power to compel prop
erty owners to live strictly in the
shade of the fire laws. Thus property
owners who permit rubbish to accum-
ulate in their shops, stores and ware
houses may be compelled to clean up
on notice from the fire marshafs Of
flee. Failure to comply with these or
ders subjects the property owner to
prosecution.
The new Kansas fire marshal law
has the approval of the insurance
com pa MES doing business in this state.
They agreed to the plan of assessment
not to exceed one per cent of their
premiums and believe that the money
spent in this manner will lessen their
fire losses and add to their earnings.