Arizona republican., 1918-01-06

gasoline, gunpowder. and the like witA sense, thinking every moment Just what they are doing, they will go a long way toward checking the total number of fires.
 But after a fire is once started the immediately important question IS not what caused it, but how to get It out in the quickest way, with the least loss of property and minimum danger for human life. Thinking Of the hu- man life that may possibly be enoan- gered by a fire is what every boy should train himself daily to have in mind.
 When the danger call comes they are not Mustered, do not lose their heads, but have at their command some practical way in which to protect another When they discover a fire that they cannot instantly put out themselves they do not madly rush away shrieking "Fire!' but think In one quick instant: Is there anyone in the building who should immediate ly be alarmed and got out?'
 If there is no one in the building then their first action is to give an alarm In cities where there are we'll organized fire departments a telephone or fire alarm box should be imme- diately used to call out the apparatus. Much property is lost and many lives endangered by an unskilled person at tempting to put out a fire instead of instantly calling the trained firemen.
 But where there IS no trained fire department the best action is to alarm the neighborhood. at the same time searching for water to throw upon the flames. In many country homes and small establishments where fire de- partments have not yet been installed hand grenades or fire extinguishers are kept. Used as soon as a fire is discovered they often extinguish 1t. The hand grenade must be thrown with sufficient force to break 1t, which sets the contents free to smother the flames. The fire .extinguisher has a small hose attached and plain instruc- tions on it's tank as to how to use it effectively.
 'In fighting a fire in this manner watch the direction of the flame and it's origin. Direct the grenades or the extinguisher to keep it from spreading. Keep driving the fire back to its origin. Often this method of attack causes a fire to go out of it's own ac- cord because it has no new material to feed upon.
 Be careful in personal fire fighting to keep the face and especially the mouth as far away from the flame and smoke as possible. To inhale smoke or flame is a very dangerous proposi- tion. Self-discipline will prevent this through ones keeping his head and knowing what he is doing during every moment of danger. If the smoke is l very dense do not stand erect and go into it, but get close to the floor, where the air is the purest, and fight it from that point.
 This rule should also be observed in getting out of a building filled with flame and smoke, if one must pass through halls and down stairways. The poisons of the fire will be in the upper atmosphere. If there is time to do it saturate towel or any cloth with water and bind 1t over the mouth. Drop to the floor and crawl for the nearest exit.
 Whatever the situation, whether it is a small or large fire which suddenly confronts you, keep your wits about you. There is nothing to be gained and much to be lost by going into a panic. A fire is dangerous under any circumstances, but it can be conquered if the brain is kept in proper working , order. Calm excited people who may be about you and direct them how tc act with the most effectiveness. The fact that you are cool and collected will go a long way toward restoring . them to their senses"
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