The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1921-10-13
FARM fire LOSS
ENORMOUS SUM
Larger Percer iage of Farm Fires
Are Preventable-Cuard
Gasoline.
LIGHTNING RODS ARE HELP
Schools and Farm Organizations
Should Have Fire Prevention
Programs Regularly.

fires that year 80 per cent were from
causes classed as preventable, 81 per
cent from partly preventable causes.
and 20 per cent unknown but believed
to have been largely preventable.
With inadequate fire-fighting equip
mrnt on farms, fires are hard to con-
tro Prevention is the best way to
deal with them.
Defective chimneys and fiues took
ol to the extent of $1962,O31; sparks
Von roofs, $1,1S1,171; careless use of
matches by smokers and others. 81
07l9S7; petroleum and it's products
$722 o67; and stoves, furnaces. boil
ers ard their pipes, $674,96S.
The largest item listed as partly
preyentable is lightning, $3,933.950.
Fire Prevention Week should be
made a special time for looking over
the premises to see that the buildings
are in the best practicable shape to
prevent and resist fire; that inflam-
mabe rubbish is cleared away and
that habits of safety are instilled 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 infammable build
ings. and is never opened in the pres
ence of uncovered fame.
Watch the Lantern.
Fire Prevention Week ends on the
semi-centennial of the great Chicago
fire While occurring in a great city,
the traditional cause of this fire was
one which is liable to occur in the
Countrywide upsetting of a lantern
in stable. If lanterns must be used
in barns, they should be kept in good
condition, set or hung in safe place,
and never filled or lighted in the barn.
Numerous disastrous fires are
caused by threshing machines, both
by scattered sparks and embers and
oy dust explosions in the separators.
I'm smokestacks should have spark
arresters and the ground around the
boiler should be kept clear and wet
down if necessary. Grain dust ex-
plosions are largely preventable. The
United States department of agricul-
ture has made exhaustive studies OF
the subject and is prepared to recon-
mend adequate safeguards.
Serious losses are caused by sparks
from locomotives, which ignite dry
wooden single roofs and start many
fires in straw, stubble, and grass dur
ing dry seasons. If railroad runs
through the farm, it will pay to plow
few burrows along the right OF way
as fire break.
Kerosene lamps should be exam
ined to see that the burners are III
good condition, and should never be
left where they may be upset. kero-
sene and gasoline receptacles should
be kept apart and should be so diner
ent as to avoid possibility OF a mis-
take.
Friction Matches Dangerous.
Ordinary friction matches should be
kept in safe receptacles, away from
children, and never carried loose.
Smoking in barns and garages never
should be permitted. Fire marshais
of western states report greater nre
losses in grain and straw the past
season from carelessly thrown
matches, engine sparks and automo-
bile and tractor backfire, than ever
before.
4 Buildings may be made safer py
Neeing that the chimneys are WITHOUT
cracks and free of SCOT, which may
take fire and scatter sparks on ary
roofs. Flues which may become not
should be covered with asbestos anu
any nearby walls and ceilings pro.
tected. There should be a sheet Oh
metal under every stove.
Out of all the losses by lightning,
not one was on building protec'eu
by lightning rods. 1t is now dehnlteiy
known that lightning rods aHoro pro-.
lection. If installed intelligently they
reduce the risk from lightning Amos,
to the vanishing point.
Public schools may well devote an
hour or afternoon to special nre pre-
Ncutlou pIOSi dIh N'oiAA~
citizens could be called in for tain
Essays and. perhaps. a playiet by inc
children would help impress the mat
ter on their minds. Some schoois az
ready have a weekly Is minute lesson
on fire prevention. The plan is aaiiii
able
Meetings of farm organizations are
particularly proper occasions Tor nre
prevention programs. These Organize.
tons frequently have a fire Insurance.
feature, and every fire loss means la +
er premiums for the mutual insurance
associations.
The lesson of fire prevention shouiu
be taken to every rural home ana com,
munity. Precautionary measures wn'
40 much to cut down loss that 'ahes
millions of dollars out of the posses
sion of rural Americans every yea
and leaves nothing in its place. e
vention is better than regret