Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1919-04-19
FIRE PRINCIPAL
DANCER To AUTO
Owner Should Have Extinguisher
Handy and Keep Close Watch
on Electrical System.
SWEEP GARAGE FLOOR Often
Gasoline Tank Should Never Be Filled
II There 10 Open Flame Near
Go over Connections to Dis
cover Any Leak.

Fire Is really the creates, danger
with which the motorst has tn cope.
Not that automobiles are In the habit
Of catching fire regularly, hut the fire.
when IL does come, Is sudden and I'm.
hcralded. Furthermore the everyday
handling Of gasoline makes one care.
less, II warning In itself that Is seldom
needed. There are so many ways In
which Il car can catch fire that II Is
the duty of every motorlst to see that
all possible steps are taken to prevent
such accidents. A few suggestions
follow that may assist In warding of
the danger
Keep Fire Extinguisher Ready.
First of all have u fire cytingulsher
and keep 1t ready nj all times for use.
Many motorists carry them on their
cars and thus reduce their insurance
rates. This Is the best practice, but
an extra eXtnguiSher In the garage
Is never out of place. The small, com.
pact pump type IL advised, as II Is the
best for fighting gasoline or G!l fires
and can he used safely around cleo
tricnl apparatus. Some owners have
nm idea thar the solution used In these
cXtinguisherS can he used for clean.
ing purposes, but It's use for this pur.
pose, even II practicable, is hardly
wise. The extra few drops may mean
lot should the car catch fire on the
road.
DO not let oily rags or waste lie
around the garage. Keep them In
metal contalner and sweep the floor
often. II prevents the spread Of fire.
Keep the engine clean, especially the
sod pan. See that there Is a small hole
In 1t under the carburetor drip. II
there Is none by all means make one.
Keep Flame From Tank.
Never MI the gasoline tank with an
open flame near, Likewise see that
the funnel used makes metallic con
tact with the tank. n has happened
that static electricity generated by
he gasoline flowing through the fun.
mel has spanked the tank and caused
II serious explosion Make sure that
the tank does not leak, particularly
when the tank Is located under the
cuwl. II Is we'll to 90 over all gaso.
line connections occasionally 10 detect
any leaks,
Install Il gasoline shut,On where 1t
can he READILY r"uchcd. Some cars
have them In an 0ut.of.thc-way place
that is dinirult 10 reach in an emcr-
grncy. Always shut off the gasoline
when leaving III" car IN the garage.
This Is even more Important when nm
op"n-typc coal stove l. used for heat
Ing the building. \ srraner should
also be installed In the feed pipe if
there Is none on the car and sediment
should be removed once u month.
The electrical system should also he
watched and The connections kept
tight for loose or grounded wire
may start lire. When cleaning the
engine with Il brush use one with no
metal parts; short circuit caused by
the metal on the brush may ignite the
gasoline used in cleaning.
Should fire start in the carbureter
shut on the gasoline and start the en-
gine, rs racing II will soon draw all
the gasoline from the CarburetOr. Sand
can he thrown NJ the base Of the flame,
and when using the eXtinguisher squirt
II through the radiator without raising
the hood
The last suggestion Is not the least
importnnt-read this again.