Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-09-18
ANNUAL REPORT
Of STATE FIRES
CareIeSSneSs, Is Given as Main
Cause for Fire Loss.
1923 BLAzES DURING YEAR
According to Statement by the Fire
Marshal's Department, the Total
Loss for Twelve Months
Reaches $4,3e4,1 1875.

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 marshals department,
just made public by Commissioner of
Insurance NJ. J. Cleary, who, under
the new law, is made ex-ofiicio 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 total
property damage of S2,323,415. 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 preventable, be-
ing due to carelessness, defective
building, heating agencies. etc.
OF these fires 700 were due to heat
ing devices and chimneys, with a loss
of $L059.770; 1886 to lightning; 293 to
matches; 1T to kerosene and stove
explosives; 50 to defective electrical
work; Sc 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
shaps 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 neglectiug how
ever, the investigation of questionable
fires and the prosecution of suspected
firebugs Under the new arrangement
the state will be divided into units, so
that each man can inspect the condi-
tons 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. IAN agree that this
smaller fire waste in Europe is due to
centuries of training, greater careful
ness and a 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 coustruc-
ton. and to laws and ordinances regu-
lating fire hazards generally and the
storage of combustibles, iutiammables
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 tie departments
force inspected most of the S25 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 1876 lightning
losses reported only two were on rod
ded buildings.