Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-09-25
FIRE PREVENTION
DAY IS SET; OCT 8
ACTING GOV. PAINTER ASKS MIS-
souRlANs TO CLEAN UP RUB
slsH AND WASTE.
LOSSES IN YEAR SO, 900
Much Of Damage Unnecessary and
Could Be Avoided, Executive De-
clares in Proclamation Asking
All to Observe Event.

Jefferson City.-Missouri is to have
a fire prevention day" Oct. 8. Acting
Gov. Painter issued a proclamation
setting aside that day for citizens to
free their business and residence
premises from fire-breeding debris.
In his proclamation Gov. Painter
calls attention to the large number of
fires in the state that might have
been prevented by reasonable care by
property and others.
Gov. Painter says that local author
tiles should give attention to better
building regulations, fire protection
and prevention, as well as to added
apparatus for fire fighting. Fire drills
should be held on that day in institu-
tons, factories and in public, private
and parochial schools.
Fire losses in Missouri, insured and
otherwise, amounted in 1912 to
$9,000,00
Waste of Resources Unnecessary.
Attached to his proclamation is q
list of ffre-prevention suggestions.
The proclamation and suggestions fol-
lows, in part:
The unnecessary waste of energy and
resources in the state of Missouri by fire
is appalling, and is a vital problem which
demands the immediate and serious eff
forts of all our people for a satisfactory
solution.
The citizens Of Missouri, young and, old,
share the responsibility of our excessive
fire loss. Carelessness. which causes so
many fires, is p~reventable. We cannot
hope to make sufficient reduction in fire
loss by better apparatus or by prosecut-
ing the man who sets his building on
fire. We must prevent moving condi
tons from our buildings that tend to
cause fires.
Matches In Metal Boxes.
/ attach hereto certain suggestions CAL
culated to aid in the observance of fire
prevention day, and which l recommend
to the favorable consideration Of the peo-
pie of the state.
Supplies of matches should be kept in
metal boxes and out of the reach Of chill
dren. AS matches generally are danger
out, and are the cause of a large number
of fires, it is recommended that only safe
ty matches be used.
Where lamps are used they should not
be filled by artificial light, or after dark.
Coal oil should be kept in metal cans
and only in small quantities in a safe
place.
Gas brackets should have wire globes
where there is danger of window curtains
being blown into the flame.
All fiues n chimneys should be eX-
amined carefully by competent persons
before the fires are started in the fall.
All furnaces or heating apparatus
should be inspected by, competent per-
sons before winter fires are started, and
the danger of fires being started there
from should be carefully ~safeguarded.
Fire Extineulshers Urged.
1t is advisable to have OF hand at all
times conveniently located, fire eXtin-
guishers. Several kinds of liquid fire ex-
tinguishers have been approved by the
National Underwriters Association, and
care should be used to get one that has
been tested and found reliable. All fires
could be easily suppressed at the start
with a chemical eXtinguisher.
In factories, where a considerable num-
Der of employees work, and in schools and
other public buildings, where people con-
gregate, printed rules should be displayed
giving directions for necessary precau-
tons against fire, and as to methods of
escape from buildings in case Of fire, and
proper drills should be given at regular
intervals.
The burning of rubbish, except under
proper public regulations In cities and
towns, should be prohibited.
All city and tow authorities should
rigidly inspect moving picture show build
ings and require that a sufficient number
of exits be provided. and that there be
an ample supply of fire ex%tinguishers
available at all times.