The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-07-13
CHARLESTONsS FIRE CHIEF
IN HIS ITINERARY

CHARLESTONS FIRE CHIEF
IN HIS ITINERARY
Capt. Louis Behrens, chief of the
Charleston fire department, at the in-
stance of the State insurance de-
partment, is making tour delivering
addresses on fire prevention a-.d fire
fighting. He began his worf; in New.
berry Monday afternoon at the opera
house. It was press day with The
Herald and News and as the paper
was late in going to press on &C
count of delayed advertisements, there
was no representative of this paper
at the meeting. AS Chief BehrenS
went to Laurens the Following day and
made his address there We copy the
Advertisers account Of it as applying
similarly to Newberry, as follows:
Chief Behrens of the Charleston
fire department made an address be-
fore the fire department, insurance
agents and other citizens in the court
house yesterday afternoon. Chief Be-
hrens read a. carefully prepared
speech emphasizing the Importance OF
Inspection by the FIRE departments and
measures for fire prevention by pro-
perty owners and occupants. He force:
fully showed the. need >: of these
things by comparing the fire losses in
this country and European countries,
showing that the loss in the United
States is $500 per capita against SSc
in European countries. To the great
fire loss here he ascribed poor con-
struction, such as the use Of shlngle
roofs, and the carelessness Of owners
and occupants. He said that large
proportion Of the fires here could be
prevented if the public would interest
itself in reducing the fire waste and he
thought this would sooner be brought
about when the public comes to real
re that the cost of fire insurance de-
pends upon this. The more the fires,
he said, the higher the rate of insur-
ance, as the premiums must take care
of the losses.
"Chief Behrens cited several state
statutes in regard to fire prevention,
one of them empowering the FIRE de-
partments to make inspections OF
buildings and another providing for a
report on all fires. He urged that the
local fire department comply with botn
statutes in the interest of the lives
of the firemen as we'll as the property
of the insured.
"The fire chief was given close at
tention by those present, though the
crowd was not as large as the import
ance of the theme justified.
Fire Prevention.
Editorial Laurens Advertiser
The report of fire prevention which
Chief Behrens discussed in his address
yesterday afternoon, is one that may
profitably engage the attention of all
property holders and occupants and
particularly the officials OF the towns
and cities. The wide difference in the
losses in this country and foreign
countries shows the vast room for i'm
provement which could be brought
about to our advantage. A very large
pc- cent Of fires is due to negligence
and careeslsness, and South Carolina
does not occupy an enviable place in
this regard. This explains, in part
at least, the higher insurance rates
prevailing in this state, for every ire;
must be paid for out Of the premiums. !
While Chief Behrens had a very small
crowd to hear him, he made a deep
impression on his hearers and we be-
lieye his address will be OF great value