The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-11-27
Frederic Haskin's Lette,
Don't Have Fires.

some sections Of the CITY .A,,..
roofs. which are particularly src-a
ed upon by the fire department y.
prohibited. "
Fire Prevention.
In addition to all these ma.
lions. the city maintains . @
efficient fire prevention hn,.!
which deluges the schools vim 4.
prevention literature, and xh,rs y. !.
now carrying on an astonisbin.,s
comprehensive scheme for hri..s
ing every residence and buildins = I
San Francisco under the immss;...
supervision of the fire depatmss.
Every city block is now daily -
vestigated by the flremen a. i.
district. On the first visit a sl.,ss
OF the first and second f,oor, !.
every house and store and build,..
Is made and turned into the a.
prevention bureau. which Is er,Ss
ally compiling a huge block reco,a /
In other words, a diagram OF er,s
building in the city is to be ON n.
in the fire department, so that un%
the breaking out Of a fire in 4 -.
tain building on Post street, for =,
ample. the fire department can tun |
to this numbers in their flea and
see exactly what kind Of a plaes !
is-where its entrances and I'm.
are, how many people 1t contain,
what it is used for.
With firemen patroling tho civ
in the cause of fire-prevention a
policemen patrol it in the cause a
crime-prevention, life and property
in San Francisco are becomins(
safer and safer. Every little detail
about every house-the condition a.
its walls, the character Of its ruh.
bish, the size of its oil supply and
where it is kept (oil being used Al.
most entirely in the place Of coal
here)-is reported to the fire pre-
vention bureau, with lengthy N.
port if there is an existing fire rink
!. The owner of the premises d
given from two to ten days to rem.
edy any dangerous rislt after
which, if he does not comply will
the law, he is ordered to appear It
the district attorneys Office and
make his report. If it is not gui.
ficiently convincing, another fire IL.
spector accom- anies him back to
his store or residence and sees that
the departments recommendation
are carried out.
Firemen Have Police Power.
In enforcing fire regulations, The
department possesses police power,
as well as the cooperation Of The
association of fire underwater u
a factory is in serious condition,
the industrial accident commission
is notified, and it sends its inspector,
who has police power. In San Fran
cisco the owners of apartmen!
houses must secure permits every
year in order to rent their apart.
ments, and in the case of them.
fringement of fire regulation
these permits are held up until TIE
necessary precautions have been
taken. In the same way, the de-
partment can order electrical CON.
panies to cease supplying electro
power to any plants not complying
with the fire laws. "a,
Ninety per cent of the fires whiG
kill thousands of people and destroy
millions Of dollars worth OF prop
erty in this country every year ars
due to carelessness, according TO
Chief Martin J. Kearns OF tn, Sn
Francisco fire prevention bureau
The most frequent causes OF nfe',
as shown by fire department rec
ords, are rubbish and refuse snc
smokers carelessness. Thus, ne
resident of every city as well y
those of San Francisco, should m
interested in the following liH o.
suggestions written down Tor tas
| reported by Chief Kearns:
Beginning with the attic, con!
pile the stairs with books ana
boxes, which would obstruct tne
path Of the fireman in case Of me
Don't pile old papers and mag
zines against the chimney, as ny
may be generated in these some dN
and may start a fire. or crack u
the chimney may he develops
! through which sparks may faiL
Don't hang thin electric light colas
from nails or over boards. Inc u
sulation on these cords will s0oa
wear off, the wires will spark. ana
if your fuses are not just right !ne
insulation will start to burn. ms
Is true of every part Of the hoass
as well as the attic. Remember tna'
spontaneous combustion also ol1sa
occurs in piles of old clothes. j,
Don't leave furniture, rags wv
mops soaked in oil in a corner u
shelf OF a closet. Rags with !pess
oils on them can catch fire by tneu'
selves in a warm atmosphere, neats
they should always be placed !,
metal cans. Don't smoke ID De',
you are taking a chance every tn.
YOU do so. Electric bed Warmers
are also dangerous unless USED VIZ
the utmost caution. Some peopi.
use an electric light bulb TOT ln.' '
purpose, and numerous fires nN.
resulted from this cause. Ae'''
throw rubbish and ashes IN sa',
thing but a metal can or box: W.
never try to light a fire Win Is, s,
sene. Always determine at nish.
before retiring, just what w.
would do If awakened suddenv i
find the house on fire and the wv
nary means OF escape cut on.