Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-09-16
ANNUAL REPORT
Of STATE FIRES
CareIessness, Is Given as Main
Cause for Fire Loss.
1928 BLAzES DURING YEAR
According to Statement by the Fire
MarshaFs Department, the Total
Loss for Twelve Months
Reaches S4,364,1o5.

Madison.-About two-thirds Of the
number Of fires and one-half of the
total losses in Wisconsin are on dwell
ings and barns.
This is one of the interesting facts
brought out in the annual report Of
the state fire marshaPs department,
just made public by Commissioner of
Insurance NJ. J. Cleary, who, under
the new law, is made ex-of1cio state
fire marshal. During the fiscal year,
1923 fires were reported in the state,
with total fire loss Of $4,364,195,
and, Of these fires 2,028 were on
dwellings and barns, with a total
property damage of $685. Ais. As
dwelling houses and barns are con-
sidered preferred risks in insurance,
because of the practical absence Of
the moral hazard, these figures are
significant. They emphasize the i'm
portance of greater care in construc-
ton and housekeeping. since the
great majority of such fires and the
consequent loss are preventabIe, be-
ing due to carelessness, defective
building, heating agencies, etc.
Of these fires 796 were due to heat
ing devices and chimneys, with a loss
of s1,O59, RIO; 336 to lightning; 293 to
matches; III to kerosene and stove
explosives; 81 to defective electrical
work; IS to carelessness of smokers,
and go to gasoline explosions.
The same conditions relative to pre-
Variability exist in the more longest
ed districts where the other fires large
ly occurred. From this it is apparent
that the primary work Of the fire mar
shaIs department lies in the direction
Of prevention through inspection,
rather than the investigation and
prosecution of mysterious and ques-
tiOnable cases Of fire.
In view Of these facts, Commissioner
Cleary plans to broaden the work of
fire, prevention through inspection,
and will add three men to the field
for this purpose, not heglecting, how
ever, the investigation of questionable
fires and the prosecution of suspected
frebugs. Under the rev arrangement
the state will be divided into units, so
that each man can inspect the condi-
tions in his particular field and thus do
the most effective work in the line of
prevention.
The report sets forth that the value
Of fire prevention work is difficult to
estimate; but from the fact that the
fire loss in the state has remained
practically the same for some years,
while the population and property
values have greatly increased, it is
manifest there has been a great gain
in fire protection.
Every fire protection writer and
speaker calls attention to the fact that
the fire losses of this country are
from eight to ten times as large, per
capita, as in European countries, "
says the report. "All agree that this
smaller fire waste in Europe is due to
centuries of training, greater careful
ness and feeling Of greater mutual
responsibility, developed either as a
result of such training, or through the
| enforcement of law. 1t is further due
to better building laws and construc-
ton, and to laws and ordinances regu-
lating fire hazards generally and the
storage of combustibles. infammables
and explosives. To the end of bring
ing about and, if necessary, enforcing
better conditions, we have prepared
and submitted to city and village au-
thorities several fire prevention ordi-
nances, and further, have assisted To-
| cal officials in drawing others along
these lines"
During the year the departments
force inspected most of the 325 fire
departments of the state, and gave
its service to increasing their eff
cheney.
An interesting fact brought out in
the report is that of 1856 lightning
losses reported only two were on rod
ded buildings.