The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-08
END FEAR OF FIRE
Emmett, Kan, Solves Problem
of Small Town.
Home of Willard Has Only
Department of Kind.
USE SMALL EXTINGUlSHERS
Initial Cost Was SIS; Saved
Town Nearly $4,000.
Cuts Insurance Premium; Clean
Record for Six Years.
USE SMALL EXTINGUISHERS


lard's home town. population 200. has
solved the problem of fire protection.
The Hon. Jess himself. It must be
admitted did not contribute materially
to this solution. Jess has consider
able reputation as a smoke consumer,
but not as a fireman.
The small town has no water mains
or pumping station, or other adequate
supply of water for fighting fire. and
hence it must find the best available
substitute.
Emmett business men think they
have found the right sort of a substi-
tute
At any rate, Emmett's fire depart
ment has made an enviable record.
During the six years of its existence
it has had an opportunity to try it's
fire fighting ability on every sort of
fire from a bonfire in the back alley
to those caused by gas explosions and
floor.
The Equipment.
The fire fighting equipment con-
sists of ten three-gallon chemical fire
extinguishers, costing $3.50 each,
which are owned by the merchants
and are kept where they can be easily
brought into action in case of emer-
gency.
Each store where the fire extin-
guishers are kept corresponds to a
the alarm is turned in to the central
telephone operator, and she notifies
the several fire stations. Someone is
at once started out with the fire ex-
t1nguiSherS to the scene of the fire.
The local firemen have fought fires
here under a great variety of condi-
lions, and feel that they have given
the apparatus severe test
At one time when the temperature
was below zero, one of our black
oh
through the roof before it was noticed.
Four of the ten eXtinguishers put out
the blaze, and prevented what would
undoubtedly have been a heavy loss
as there were several wooden buildings
in close proximity to the burning
blacksmith shop.
A Real Test.
The first test of the extinguishers
in big fire was when the acetylene
gas lighting plant in the basement of
one of our largest buildings exploded,
and literally tore one side of the build
ing to pieces. The gas that was in the
acetylene tank below caught fire and
continued to burn fiercely forcing the
flames up into the building. The ten
extinguishers We're all brought into
service quickly as possible, and it
only took a little while to empty them.
They were at once recharged with
chemicals, right on the scene of the
fire, without loss of any time. The
IlSnl lasted IOT ABOUT an nOuT, ana at
the end of that time, the local fire
fighting machine was stronger than
at the beginning. Every extinguisher
had been filled and refilled several
times, and were nearly all full when
the flames were conquered.
Annual Cost, 81.
The combined cost of all our fire
extinguishers is only SIS, and it costs
about "a a year to keep them up.
These facts show that it does not
necessarily follow that a small town
without water must burn down every
time it catches fire. a little chemical
right on the spot before the fire gets
a big start, is better than a very large
amount of water little later.
Frank lima, cashier of a local bank
says that the insurance companies
make a reduction of from to IT
cents per 500 when approved fire ex-
tinguishers are kept in the buildings,
and that the saving in Emmett from
that alone is about $50 per year. So
it is apparent that these ten extin-
guishers are a mighty good invest
ment, even though they may never be
used at a fire.
Saves Town $4,000.
The most conservative business men
here at Emmett estimate that our ten
little fire extinguishers have saved
our town at least $50, 900 in fire losses
within the past six years.
Such fire protection is within the
reach of every small town which has
no water supply. The merchants own
and operate their own fire fighting
equipment. They can build up the
strength of the department as much
as they wish.