The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-10-05
TO REDUCE FARM
FIRE LOSSES
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
WALLACE ENDORSES FIRE
PREVENTION. WEEK


be observed October 2-S.
It's object is to call attention to
the vast annual loss by fires which
might have been prevented, and to EN-
phasize the necessity of safeguards
against future fires The nations
total fire loss is estimated at $4,000
lives and s5OO,OOO,OOO in property each
year.
According to the statistics OF the
national board of fire underwriters,
there were 1926 fires on farms in
single year-191S-and the estimat-
ed loss on farms in a single year-19-
18-and- the estimated loss was $751;
166,71O. That means that 1926 ru-
raj families suffered loss in degrees
varying from slight damage to the
loss of home, live stock, and in many
cases human life.
Farmers, and all persons in rural
communities, well may join in the OBJ
servanlce Of fire prevention week both
Individually and in public gatherings,
such as schools churches, and farm
organization.-Henry C. Wallaces,
rotary of agriculture.
Farm fires cost about $4,000, 900
a year-$18,166,71O in 1918 of the
fires that year SO per cent were from
cIassed as preventable, 81 per cent
from partly preventable causes, and
80 per cent unknown but believed to
have been largely preventable. With
inadequate fire-fighting equipment on
farms, fires are hard to control. Pre-
Vention is the best way to deal with
them.
Defective chimneys and flues take
toll to the extent of $1,962.O31: sparks
on roofs, $1,1S1,171; careless use of
matches by smokers and others, ST.
71O,9S7 petroleum and its products,
$732,O67 and stoves, furnaces, BOIL
ers, and their pipes, $674,968.
The largest item listed as partly
preVentable is lightning, 1888, $50.
Fire prevention week should be
made special time for looking over
the premises to see that the buildings
are in the best practicable shape
to prevent and resist fire, that in
flammable rubbish is cleared away;
and that habits of safety are installed
in the handling of matches, lamps.
stoves, and kerosene and gasoline.
Gasoline has come to play such an
important part in farm life that spe-
cial care should be taken to see that
it is not stored in inflammiable build
ings and is never opened in the pres
ence of uncovered flame.
Fire prevention week ends on the
semi-centennia1 of the great Chicago
fire. While occurring in great city,
the traditional cause of this fire was
one which is liable to occur in the
countryside upsetting of lantern in
a stable. If antelrns must be used in
barns, they should be kept in good
condition, set or hung in safe place,
and never filled in the barns.
Numerous fires are caused by
thrashing machines, both by scatter
ed sparks and embers and by dust
explosions in the separators. All
smokestacks should have spark arrest
ers, and the ground around the boiler
should be kept clear and wet down If
necessary. Grain dust explosions are
largely peVentable. The United
States department of agriculture has
made exhaustive studies of the sub
ject and is prepared to recommend
adequate safeguards.
Serious losses caused by sparks
from locomotives, which ignite dry
wooden shingle roofs and start many
fires in straw, stubbe and grass dur
ing dry seasons. If railroad runs
through the farm, it will pay to plow
a few burrows along the right of way
as fire break
Kerosene lamps should be examin-
ed to see that the burners are in good
condition, and should be kept apart
and should be so different as to avoid
possibility of a mistake.
Ordinary friction matches should be
kept in safe PAGES receptahcles, away
from children, and never carried loose
Smoking in barns and garages never
should be permitted Fire marshals
of western states report greater fire
losses in, grain and straw the past
from carelessly thrown matches, en-
CINE sparks and automobile and trac-
tor backfire, that ever before.
Buildings may be made safer by
seeing that the chimneys are without
cracks and free from SCOT, which may
take fire and scatter sparks on dry
roofs Flues which may become hot
should be covered with asbestos and
any nearby walls and ceilings pro-
tected. There should be a sheet of
metal under every stove.
Out of all tn eosses by lightning
not one was on building protected
by lightning rods. 1t is how definitely
known that lightning rods afford pro-