The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1917-08-02

eB oknhiIAtlona. The
farmer, therefore, is necessarily shrovn
upon his own resources for III. mean,
OF preservation, and upon him rs.t. N.
double responsibility of Hrst elim;p.t.
ing all possible FIRE hazards and also q,
having fire ertinguishinr apparatus
ready for immediate use should a fire
occur.
Precautions Against Fire.
Dry grass along the roadsides and
IN the pasture fields is a serious menace
70. ripe crop of grain. A spark from
. match or passing train or emitted
fr9m the exhaust of an automobile an.
CINE, or lighted cigarette or cigar
STUB thrown csrelessly aside, can easily
start FIRE which, with surroundings
favoring its spreading, will result in
incalculable loss and DESTROY n ouan.
tity Of grain sufficient to furnish an
entire comneinity with food. Where
conditions permit, burrows should be
plowed between the grass and the grain.
II this is not possible, the grass should
be moved close enough to afford a
~-~~ - s@0 bpEtuUluK OF uT6,
A New Hazard.
A comparatively new danger to grain
fields is white-hot carbon discharged
from the exhausts of tractors when
pulling uphill or through heavy part
Of the crop. Every exhaust should be
protected by fine wire screen, which
should be renewed at least snce
month, ~ the heat becomes so intense
~ to quickly destroy its effectiveness.
When the grain has been threshed
and piled in the field, it should be pro.
tected by a sufficient number of fur.
rows to prevent its destruction from the
burning of stubble.
Danger From Threshers.
The time of one of the great dangers
to grain and grain fields in the North
west is during the threshing season
and is caused by careless methods in
threshing and piling the threshed grain
too near to the straw stacks. Every
threshing machine by the very reason
| Of its operations collects a certain
amount of smut or dust, which is high
ly inflammable and subject to explo
sion, and the farmer should insist that
before threshing machine commences
operations on his settings the machine
be thoroughly cleaned out, flues exam
ined and water tanks kept full. If
/ possible, the straw stacks should be re-
moved every night, but where this is
not possible then under no circum-
stances should the threshed grain be
piled so close to the thresher or the
straw stacks that the burning Of either
would endanger the grain. Every
threshing machine owner or operator
should be required to have a good sized
chemical tank with its equipment to
Immediately extinguish small fires.
If not sufficiently cured, and whether
baled or loose, hay will generate gases
which are susceptible of spontaneous
combustion unless the barn is suffi-
GENTLY ventilated to carry off these
gases. Every particule of dry grass
and all litter and rubbish should be
removed from barnyards and from al
buildings on the farm. Under no cir
cumstances should smoking or the use
J of matches be permitted around barr
buildings, while candles or any othel
open flame should be strictly prohib
tied and only closed lanterns or cleo
trio pocket flashlights allowed in o.
around barns carrying any quantity o.
hay.
Fighting Flies.
The great difference between tn
trained fire department and the volun
teer organization is the fact that al
experienced fireman knows exactl.
what to do in answering an alarm o
FIRE and has his apparatus and equip
ment in such condition as to give tn
best service in the shortest possibl
time. Even volunteer organization
;, however, is better than none at all, an
: the farmers in every community shout
Immediately organize and secure FIR
fighting apparatus for the purpose o
/. FIRE protection and to extinguish an
I, fire that may happen in their section
Every such community should selec
: the necessary number of men to act
chiefs and TO take cndrge VI 'no -
!. fighting fire. These chiefs could a
! range for certain signals and alarms
! be given to denote fire in any localit.
: and also where shovels, wet sacks, chen
: ical extinguishers and other apparatt
!, and utensils are to be obtained at u
shortest notice.
: Water in many cases is not avallabl
! hut chemical fire extinguisher, wa
:. which each farmer should be provide
! will accomplish more in putting out
: Ere which has not assumed large pr
! portions, than any other means.
Where the district will permit,
! automobile or motor truck can
!, eouipped with chemical tanks, and the
u will prove more effective than nv
! water improperly or unskillfuily a
!, plied. In several sections OF the Sta
!. this has already been done, and the
! machines, so equipped, have demo
I, atrated great efficiency.
The vital Hour.