The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-11-09
BE CAREFUL OF GAS
SAYSCHIfF CARLSON
Approach of Winter Increases
Danger from Explosions
GASOLINE CLASSED AS ONE OF
MAIN CAUSES OF FIRES.
DO Not Store in the House or Use in
Room With Fire Danger Cited in
Cleaning Silk.

Now that the cold autumn weather
mas set in, with its increasing danger
from fires, Fire Chief Fred A. Carlson
is anxious that the people of Twin
Falls cooperate with the fire depart
ment in minimizing probabilities of
couflagratiOn and for this reason Mr.
Carlson has made the statements
which follow in the hope that they
may warn the people to greater care,
particularly in the use of gasoline In
addition to this the fire chief urges
those who have trouble with their
chimney flues to lose no time in hav-
ing them thoroughly cleaned and thus
prevent possible chimney fires
The statement made by Chief Carl
son is as follows:
Since the development of the motor
car. the number of fires due to gaso-
zine has enormously increased. Today
gasoline is reckoned as one of the pri-
mary causes of conflagration
One of the peculiarities of gasoline
yhat is little known to the general is
ifhat it viii not burn or explode The
explosion so often referred to is due
10 gasoline vapor, and gasoline vapOr
IS one of the most deadly explosives
known. 1t is as powerful as gunpow-
der and far more likely to be set off.
An explosion of mixture of 10 per
cent OF gasoline vapor with air has
been known to wreck small house
completely. The sides of the house
were blown out, the roof collapsed, the
wreckage was set on fire and the
whole thing destroyed.
Gasoline vapor is heavier than air
and falling to the floor follows the
n 4
carries it to a fire which it is very
likely to do, the flame shoots back
like a trail of gunpowder to the source
20 supply, and either ignites the gaso-
tine yapor or causes an explosion.
Ia spite of these things household
ers use gasoline as if it were so much
water 1t is used for so many house
hold purposes, all the way from clean
ing gloves to killing vermin. that init
macy has bred contempt But sooner
OF later the careless user of gasoline
comes to grief, and if he is not killed,
ne stands a good show of losing all
mis- possessions.
Gasoline should never be used in
room where there is fire. IT should
never be used at night, and never in
the house if it is possible to go out of
doors.
In cleaning silk great care should
be taken. The tendency of silk to gen
crate static electricity is well known
and when it is rubbed violently this is
Increased. The discharge of this cleo
9ricity may take the form of an invisi-
Die spark, but that spark is hot enough
10 ignite the gasoline vapOr
An instance of just such an explo-
sion In Twin Falls was told by Mr.
Carlson. On December /, 1911, in the
cleaning establishment of Roberts and
Putnam, then located at 1877 Main ave
nue east, Mr.. Roberts was severely
burned about the hands and face when
static electricity generated by the rub
Ding of a silk dress he was cleaning
sgDited the gas vapor and caused an
explosion.
There is no excuse for keeping gaso-
Zine IL the house in anything except
zone of the modern safety cans. These
cans are so ingeniously cOntrived that
II is impossible for a spark to enter
the can. The mouth of the can is pro-
tected by fine mesh screen, which
on the principle of the miners lamp,
prevents the entrance of fire.
Under no circumstances should gas
dime be stored in the house. If il is
necessary to keep on hand a gallon or
more. IL should be placed as far from
1he house as possible. Where it is