Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-31
OMAHA'S FIRE LOSS
IN ELEVEN MONTHS
Destruction of Morris Packing
Plant Swells Financial
Toll of Fires.
TOTAL COST is $67S,431

Fire losses in Greater Omaha, &C
cording to figures just issued by
Charles A. Salter. chief OF the fire de-
partment. up to December |, 1916, to-
tailed $67S,43l, as against S3Ol,559 for
the first eleven months OF 1915.
This, however, is explained by the
fact that in the period in 1916, COW
cred by the report, there was, also,
almost twice as many fires in the
first eleven months OF 1915. and fur
Their, by the fact that one single con-
fagration-that of the Morris plant
on the South Side-resulted in loss
of s443,OOl.
On June ? the second largest fire
occurred, when damage in the sum
of $l6,445 was done at the State
Furniture company's building at 1915
1910 Harvey street. The fire at
the Willow Springs brewery, which
caused $4,000 damage. was the third
largest, although this is not included
in the figures issued by the fire chief
Millions Endangered.
The total value of the buildings and
their contents endangered by fire dur
ing the first eleven months of the
year, was $20,5Sl,3ll. The loss on
buildings was $2ll, PA, while the loss
on contents was $467,178. On these
losses $665,75l in insurance was paid,
which leaves net loss of only $l2,-
$50 not covered by insurance.
During the period covered by the
report there were 1,4lo alarms, as
against 1871 for the entire year OF
1915. One hundred and eighty-two
fires from December until Deem
Der %, this year, brings the total up
to 1851. OF the l,4l9 alarms up until
December |, o2l were telephone calls,
"a box alarms, 81 still alarms. Az spe-
clal duty, 9 second alarms and third
alarms. There were p fires for
which no alarms were given.
Many Dwellings.
For building fires, dwellings lead
with total of 1913, the other fires
classified; AZ were in rooming houses.
43 in barns, q in sheds, q in flats. 20
in garages and II in restaurants.
Leading causes given for fires are:
Sparks from chimneys, 1888; burning
weeds, grass, rubbish, etc, IFS; un-
known, l07; burnt out chimneys, SS;
cigar or cigaret stubs, So; children and
matches. 81; sparks from locomotives,
IS; ignition of gasoline, gasoline
stoves, etc, 35' spontaneous combus-
ton, 81; defective electric light wires.
II; carelessness with matches, 20:
ooverheated stoves and ranges. 26; dc
fective chimneys, "a; supposed incen-
diary, 81; back fire of automobiles, 20.
One Fireman Killed.
But one nreman was killed. On Oc-
tober 3, John Q. Adams, a member OF
hose company No. IS, was crushed to
death while at work in the Morris
plant when the walls fell in. Fireman
Edward Simpson was badly bruised
about the head and shoulders and
Fireman James B. Jensen suffered a
broken collarbonc and other injuries.
On the day previous, Assistant Chief
Martin Dineen was severely burned
about the face and hands and Batta-
lion Chief George c. Crager, Fire
man James Kennedy, Edward Koch
anowski, John Pollock and William
Howley, all of hose company No 10,
were overcome by smoke and bis
tered by FIRE.
Sixteen persons, other than fremen,
were injured in fires, FIVE of them
fatally Those who lost their lives
were William H. Shields. 2124 Bin
ney street; Helen John, ISIS Valley
street; Mrs. Marie Pennisi, 6lO Pierce
street; Mrs. Carl Ma1mberg, 3047
Evans street, and Mrs. Charles Post,
Sixtieth and Dodge streets.