Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-02-20
Decrease in Number Of Fires.

Figures given out Thursday by Hon.
]. Wallace Blunt Of Skowhegan, State
insurance commissioner. show that
total of 2,35S fires were reported to
the department during the past year
against 2544 for the preceding year,
a decrease of 146 The estimated value
Of the buildings where the fires &C.
Cured during the past year was s12,-
e21.744.00 against s11, 965.00 for the
preceding year, an increase of $66, Il9
The damage to the buildings where
the fires occurred during the past
year amounted to s1,s47,792. against
81, $50, S91. 90 for the preceding year, an
increase of $66.901.00. The insurance
upon the buildings was s11 ,053,5SO.00
against s11,3 ,25600 for the preceding
year. a decrease of $307,676.
Contents of Buildings.
The estimated value Of the con-
tents of the buildings where the fires
occurred during the past year amount
ed to $3.50, $500 against s4,047 072.oo
for the preceding year. an increase OF
s3O9, 4s1.00. The damage to the con-
tents of the buildings was 81 .0oS. 1880
against s1,225, 5070O for the preceding
year. a decrease of s167. The
insurance upon the contents OF the
buildings was 81, 9S2, 1880 against ST.
s47,100.O0 for the preceding year, an
increase of $2,135, $4,000. The insurance
paid on the contents during the past
year amounted to s693. $500 against
$685., 90 for the preceding year, an
increase of $4,0S2.oo.
Causes Of Fires.
Lightning was the cause of Isl fires
during the year, with an estimated
damage of 126,734,S7s fires, with an
estimated damage of s1,o11, O34.0o are
classed as unknown; there were SIX
incendiary fires. with an estimated
damage of $S,63S.00 and 81 suspected
incendiary fires, with an estimated
damage of $137, S5400.
Fires from Sparks.
Saarks were the cause OF IA nres;
sparks from boilers. three; sparks
from chimneys and smoke-stacks, los;
sparks from flre-places. Is; sparks
from forge, one; sparks from furnaces,
from locomotive and engines, 81;
sparks from matches, II; sparks from
stoves, IS.
From Explosions.
Forty-four fires were caused by lamp
explosions; one by chemical explo-
sion, one by a coal gas explosion; two
by a gas explosion; Is by gasoline and
naphtha explosion: three by gasoline
lamp explosion: six by kerosene ex-
plosion; four by lantern explosion; one
by an explosion of paint on a stove;
two by the explosion of stoves; two
by the explosion Of gas in stoves; five
by the explosion Of kerosene In stoves:
and one by the explosion Of stove
polish.
Other Causes.
Other causes of fires during the past
year were as follows: Smoking, 1875;
chimneys, 1877; overheated stoves. go;
ashes, 81; brush. grass and forest fires,
AZ; candles, %; burning out OF CHM
neys, 10; electric wires, 46; detective
chimneys, 1893; oyerheated chimneys,
"a: gasoline engines, II; fireplaces. 10;
fireworks. %: electric fiat irons. nine;
friction in machinery. 10: furnaces, 81;
gas Jets, 2S; ignition Of tat. 20; lamps.
50; children playing with matches. 70;
spontaneous combustion, 43; stoves. 81;
gas stoves, II; kerosene stoves. 20;
overheated stoves, 60: defective stove
pipes, Is: tramps, II; boilers. seven;
bon fires and rubbish f1res, eight;
children, three: gas heater. two; al
cohol lamps, eight; electric lamps,
two; gasoline lamps, two; lanterns,
nine; rats and matches. eight; picker
in cotton and wooden mills, three: set