Albuquerque morning journal., 1921-02-11
STATE 8 5-YEAR
FIRE Loss NEAR
: MILLION MARX
Large Part of This Was Pre-
ventabIe, According to Re-
port Of National Board OF
Fire Underwriters

A five-year analysis of the fire
losses in New Mexico has just been
completed by the national board
ofRfire underwriters through its
actuarial bureau.
These figures reveal in start
ling way the price which is paid
by the state for public ignorance
and carelessness in the matter of
fire hazard. They are drawn from
an exhaustive study of approx
mately 2,1l4 different fires actually
reported upon by the insurance
companies. and to the figures pre-
sented it is estimated that rs per
cent should be added to cover fires
not reported to the actuarial bu-
reau.
The causes are classified into
three groups, of which twelve are
listed as strictly preventable with
total of $571,934 or 29.4 per cent
of the whole; nine are designated
partly preventable and total $685.
III or 35.4 per cent of the whole,
and beyond these are the unknown
causes, totalling $6S4,50 or 1872
per cent. These unknown causes
may be considered as probably
largely preventable, since. if known
they would be distributed among
the other causes.
Examining more closely we find
that while exposure. meaning the
spread of fires already started,
takes the lead with a total loss OF
, $333,075, the largest original cause
of fire is that of defective chimneys
and flues with its toll of $178, ,70S.
Electricity, $152,317 came next as
the most destructive fire cause, fol-
lowed by understanding with
|$139,953. and stoves. furnaces, boil
ers and their pipes. $l0S.634.
! .,- Complete Table.
| The complete table for five years
follows:
Strictly preventabie causes: De
fective chimneys and ilues. $17S,.
7OS; fireworks, firecfackers. etc.
$239; gas, natural and artificial
S4,S2S; hot ashes and coal, oper
fires, $1G,3S9; ignition of no
grease, oil, tar. wax. asphalt, etc.
l$6,O17; understanding, $1S9,953
open lights. $22,722; petroleum ant
its products. $66,O07; rubbish ant
litter, $2.367; sparks on roofs, $50,
2g8; steam and hot water pipes
$772; stoves. furnaces. boilers ant
their pipes. $l0S,634. Total $571,
934.
! (Note-In each Of the above cas-
es, preliminary inspection woul'
have shown the element of danger
which then might have been eaSil
remedied)
Partly preventable causes:
Electricity, $152.317; explosions
$1S,722; exposure dncluding con
flagrations), .333,075; sparks from
machinery, $41,6SS; incendiarism
$48.560; lightning, S2S,567; mis-
cellaneous known causesr $13,O87
sparks from combustion, $16,497
spontaneous combustion, $35, 658
total, $6S8,171. .-
Preventable Losses.
\ (Note-It is estimated that a
least half Of the loss occasioned b,
electricity, sparks from fires, ant
spontaneous combustion was pre-
yentable and that all the othe
= causes had some degree of pre-
ventability) .a.
!. Unknown causes (probabl,
largely preventable), $684,5o6.
New Mexico's losses from fir
and the astonishing totals quote
above should, as stated, be in
creased by about 25 per cent t
cover losses not reported to the Ma
tional Board Of Fire Underwriters
Thus it will be seen that this stat
during the years 1915 to 1919. in
elusive, paid .$1,944,611 or a year
lly average of $SSS,7z2 for the in
dulgence of its costly habit of play
ing with fire. If the huge fly
years total of $1,944,6l1 coul
have been used instead of wasted
it would have built 3SS houses a
$4,000 apiece (sufficient to furnis
homes for 1,944 people, or 1t woul
build 1874 miles of good macadaI
roads at $4,000 per mile.
~ study of such figures indicate
the need of public education in n
gard to fire prevention. 1t must /
realized that property destroyed b
fire represents an utter and IRE
trievable loss to society as a Who'll
while the inexcusable toll in hi
man life and suffering can hardl
be computed.