Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-03-18
Mayor Hays Sounds Warn
ing to Beware of SCOT and
to Keep Chimneys as
Clean as Possible.
THIRTY FIRES SINCE
FIRST OF NOVEMBER
Unusually Large Number
During Winter Months
Accumulation of SCOT Ii
Found to Be the Most
Common Cause.

Mayor Hays who. shortly after tax
ing office, inaugurated a system by
which an examination of all fires is
made Jointly by the building inspec-
tor and fire chief, to ascertain their
cause, has made the first report OF
fires public. In the report he sounds
a warning to beware of SCOT, urges that
chimneys be kept clean and that peo-
pie take every possible precaution to
prevent fires. In the same report
he takes occasion to mention the cur
few ordinance giving the information
that the picture shows have cooper
ated with the city and promised not
to sell tickets to those under 16 years
of age afer s o'clock The statement
by the mayor is as follows:
From the first day Of November
down to the present time, 80 fires have
been reported by the fire department.
Some of these could hardly be called
fires because they were merely burn
Ing flues or accidents arising from
thawing water pipes or similar causes
resulting in no particular damage The
total loss during the period mentioned
is under $4,000, the largest item be-
ing the burning of the Gallup resi-
dence Thirteen of the 80 calls may
be classed as having been occasioned
by SCOT. A long spell Of cold weather
has brought about an unusual use Of
coal and there has been more SCOT
than usual.
SHERMAN HOUSE FIRE.
The figures 1 have given above do
not include the Sherman house fire.
which occurred Saturday morning. A
complete examination of that building
has been made by the building in
spector and he is of the opinion that
the fire was either caused by accumu-
lation of SCOT or by old or defective
electric wiring. Much more SCOT has
accumulated this year than ever be-
fore ard for this reason, extra pre-
caution should be taken to care for
It. 1t usually causes a fire by accumu-
lating either in the attic or around the
flues or in depressions in the roof. The
Accommodations which ocur in this way
are later on fired by some hot spark
coming from the chimney. 1t would
be well for all householders to exam
line their attics and flues and spaces
around the chimneys, also examine the
roofs for accommodations of SCOT and
at the same time have an eye on the
electric wiring. In this way some fires
may be avoided. Another precaution
to take is to have the chimney cleaned
out or to have the SCOT burned out at
reasonable intervals, thereby prevent
ing the accumulations, care being TAX
en-. II the chimney is burned out, to
see that no accident occurs.
II wish to call special attention to
the ordinance of the city prohibiting
children under the age of 16 years
from appearing upon the streets OF
public places of the, city after 8 p. m.
unaccompanied by their parents or
guardians. The picture shows have
been requested and have agreed not
to sell tickets to unattended persons
under the age of 16 years after
o'clock. The city police department
will enforce the ordinance but under
the law are required to turn over the
offender to the county probation Off
Ger which will be done in these cases