The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-08-10
SAYS STITCH IN TIME
SURELY SAVES NINE
FIRE CHIEF TALKS TO Ian.
CASTER FOLK.
Louis BehrenS of Charleston
Urges Cause of Fire Preven-
tiOn in South Carolina.


partment and a number of the prop
erty owners of the city last night
heard Chief Louis Behrens of the
Charleston fire department deliver a
splendid address in the court house,
his subject being, Fire Prevention.
Previous announcements had been
made that Chief Behrens was to
speak in Lancaster this afternoon,
but owing to change in his plans
he arrived in Lancaster "a hours
ahead OF his schedule. Owing to
the short time allowed for advertis-
ing the change in date, the audience
last night was not as large as it or
dinarily would have been.
l.. c. Lazenby presided at the
meeting last night and in introduc-
ing the speaker pointed to the fact
that the Charleston chief is one of
the best informed men on fire fight
ing in the entire country. He urged
the audience to heed the advice
given.
inspection is Valuable.
The speaker began by saying that
the fire department can do no more
valuable work than by keeping all
buildings in the fire district under
constant inspection. He advises
that if the fremen regularly inspect
all business buildings, when a fire
hn Ern Gpht =,
then acquainted with conditions and
can do much more valuable work.
He pointed to the fact that fire
losses in the United States last year
amounted to- s214,53O,9s5, a decid-
ed increase over the loss of the pre-
vious year and says that this in
crease can be traced back directly to
carelessness.
Shingle Roof Menace.
The chief says that the greatest
menace to any town where the bust
ness district is crowded is a shingle
roof. He advised the department to
give especial time and attention to
any buildings covered with such a
roof.
Mr.. Behrens pointed out that
cities in foreign countries have fewer
and less disastrous fires than do the
cities of the United States. He says
that the average per capita fire loss
in European countries per annum is
33 cents, whereas the per capita loss
in the United States is three dollars
annually. Pointing out that 60 per
cent Of all fires are due to careless
ness, the Charleston chief says that
the general public does not take
even ordinary precautions against
hTes. Reviewing fire losses in North
} Carolina as compared with South
Carolina, the speaker pointed out
that North Carolina has almost
twice as many square miles and al
most twice as much population as
South Carolina, yet South Cardinals
| fire loss in 1915 was considerably
larger than that of the neighboring
State
/ Some OF the Causes.
Reviewing a large number Of
what he termed strictly preventa-
BILE" fires, Chief Behrens says that
the most common causes of these
fires are carelessness with matches,
defective f1ues, defective stoves and
stove pipes, carelessness with cigars
and cigarettes. IF every insurance
company should be legislated out of
business in this State. you would
soon see our public have a change
OF heart as regards ordinary care
and precaution regarding fires" de-
clared Mr.. Behrens.
The chief urges that the public be
careful with disposing of ashes, ad-
vising against ever placing them in a
wooden box when taken from the
stove. He advises care with pipes.
stoves, attics and dangerous chem
icals. He pointed out that the vol
unteer firemen do not have time to
make regular inspection of business
places with a view to ascertaining
the fire hazard, but urged the vol
unteers to keep their eyes open for
such dangers while they are in
stores and business places on other
matters. He pointed out that re-
duced fire loss means an ultimate
reduction in fire insurance rates.