The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-10
CARELESSSMOKER.
RESPONSIBLE FOR.
MOST OF FIRES
"Preventable Fires in u. S.
Caused Loss of $l5,724,-
$50 in Year.
tRy Associated Press,


NEW YORK, Jan 10.-Careless
smokers and users OF matches were
responsible for 315.724,556, of the total
loss OF $6O.466,054 worth OF property
by "preventable Ares" In the United
States during 1918. according to mem
bers Of the Fire Marshals' Association
OF North America who are holding q
two days conference here with the
National Board OF Fire Underwriters.
beginning today
Figures showing that the United
States leads the world In property
destruction by fire were given in the
opening session. the damage per capt.
Ia being stated as $40 annually In
this country as compared with 40
cents In France. 80 cents in England,
% cents In Germany. 20 cents In Italy.
and Austria, Is cents In Switzerland
and II cents in Holland.
Despite the fact that the United
States was at war and that enemy
agents were active. twenty states re-
pored a slight decrease In the number
OF cases OF arson. While 1t was an
nounced as fact that In the first
nine months after America drew the
sword $4,000. 900 worth of war indus
tries went up In smoke, in only ten
percent OF these cases was there even
suspicion OF spy-work. "Carelessness"
was designated as the biggest firebug
OF all. One grain elevator fire alone
destroyed enough wheat to make a
years supply OF bread for 20O,0 sol
diers.
Many fires at firsc attributed to
German spies and pyromaniacs were
found. upon Investigation. to be due
to other causes. One notable instance
was a spectacular and costly water
front fire in Brooklyn. the BOWS
Stores, in which a vast quantity Of
grain intended for shipment to the al
Hes was destroyed. 1t was discover
ed that the blaze was the result OF a
dust explosion caused by spark eth.
err from friction or static electricity.
Another conspicuous instance was the
Baltimore pier fire which at first was
positively ascribed to pro-German
plotters, Rigid investigation by fed
oral agents, according to fire mar
shas definitely determined it's non
incendiary origin.
Following a reference to the Morgan.
y. J. disaster, in which nearly one
hundred lives were lost and 100000
900 damage done. delegates spoke of
the work accomplished in the past
year by the fire prevention section of
the War Industries board. This bu-
reau. IL was stated. had inspected more
than 1000 large plants. valued at over
$4,000. 100000 and in large percent
age of cases the safety" recommends
tons of its volunteer dollar-a-year en-
gineers were carried out
II was stated that fire prevention,
methods adopted for the sixteen large
army cantonments throughout the
Uuited States had proved most effec-
tive although these camps consisted
OF wooden buildings. Hazards were
reduced to the minimum by proper
watchfulness water protection. iso-
lation conduiting. and enforcement of
regulations in regard to smoking and
the use Of matches and lights
II. c. Bearly, one of the speakers,
said New York City was in imminent
peril OF great confla grafton when
on New. Z, after the erroneous report
of the German surrender. storm" of
paper was thrown from the windows
Of business buildings littering the
streets to a depth CT several inches
and many miles of ticker tape cover
ing telephone and telegraph wires con-
stituted fire hazard OF the Nth pow
or. Fire Chief kenlon of New York
City declared that II serious blaze
had started at that time or on Nov. H.
four days later when the scenes of
pandemonium were repeated all New
York might have been laid in ashes
The fire departments would have been
crippled also. he said, by the crowds
OF traffic congestion in the streets AS
~ fhn IaI1
Thus was invited the greatest loss
OF life and property. perhaps. In Amer
lean history"