Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-09
FIRE PREVENTION DAY.

Fires, nearly all preventable. cost
the people OF Illinois a million dol
lars month. Furthermore, no less
than 400 people were burned to death
in the state in 1913, which startling
fact amply jusufies the appeal of
Governor Dunno for the general OBJ
servance OF fire prevention day. Oct. 9.
Walter H Bennett. state fire mar
shall. refers to the data which have
been gathered on this subject in the
following bulletin supporting the re-
quest for general response to the
governors proclamation:
Authorities agree that careless
ness, thoughtlessness and uncleanly
housekeeping account for so per cent
of the fire waste in this state. Last
year the fire waste in Illinois amount
ed to over $13,O00.OOO. This is a grave
indictment on the prudence and intel
ligence OF the people of this state be-
cause this loss is equivalent TO. and
in the nature OF, a direct tax of over
a million dollars a month on our
people.
Fire Prevention day affords an ad-
mirable opportunity TO attack fire
tribute heavily to the number of fires,
as instanced in the following extracts
concerning the 10000 fires which &C.
currel in Illinois in the year 1913,
which represent an average loss of
$1,000 fire. (This does not take into
consideration false alarms or those
fires reported in which there is a dam
age of less than So.
There can be no question but that
5000 of the fires in the state of I'LL
nois last year and over so per cent of
the total fire loss af $4,000. 900 was
the direct result of carelessness and
could be easily eliminated.
-Four hundred people were burned
20 death in Illinois in 1913, and a great
majority Of these fatalities was the
direct result of the grossest forms of
carelessness.
"Sixty-five people burned to death
by careless handling of gasoline.
"Fifty-fve people burned TO death
by clothes igniting from bonfres.
Forty people burned to death by
starting fires with kerosene.
Forty children burned to death
playing with matches.
by clothing catching fire from stoves
and open CRATES.
Nine people burned to death from
smoking in bed
Five people burned to death vy
stove polish explosions.
Five people burned to death by
sparks from fire crackers.
NO matter what line OF effort is
followed in the cleanup campaign for
Fire Prevention day nothing can ex-
eel the good results obtained in the
a absolute saving of life and property
that come from the removal OF those
causes and conditions which result
from lack of cleanliness. carelessness
and neglect.
DO not allow rubbish or combus-
tible materials to accumulate on your
premises.
DO not allow accommodations OF use
less goods to form in cellars and base
nents.
DO not store combustible materials
around stoves or furnaces.
do not use matches or candles in
closets.
DO not keep matches where they
AN be reached by children.
DO not keep combustible rubbish ]
,r ashes in wooden receptacles. i
DO not use kerosene in starting 1
Tres.
DO not allow children TO play 1
around bonhres.
DO not keep oil mops or oily rags I
where they can ignite spontaneously |
md cause fires.
"One OF the ways IN which the 4
can participate in this
ire prevention campaign and thereby 4
,reatly reduce the fire hazard IS TO
arefully examine on Oct. 8 all heat.
ng apparatus. fiues and chimneys, 10
ee If they are in proper condition for
inter use'