Milford chronicle., 1922-02-03
CAUSE OF MANY FIRES
The Loss in Delaware From De-
fective Flue Fires in Five
Years was S1O9,36O.

OF the four divisions into which heat
ing plants are divided in the list of fire
causes drawn up by the Actuarial Bu-
reau of The National Board of Fire I'm
derwriters, that of Defective chimneys
and FIues is responsible for the heaviest
property losses 1t stands third in the
list of major fire causes, Electricity and
Matches Smoking being the leaders.
All new chimneys should be lined with
chimney tiling-or be lastered with ce-
ment-not a lime mortar-to insure
against defective joints, or breaks in
bricks.
The hazard is one that is thoroughly
recognized by state fire marshals, fire
prevention engineers, fire chiefs and
other competent authorities Fire chiefs
know, as each winter season approaches,
that they must look forward to fighting
a multitude of fires originating in defec-
tive chimneys and flues Many, in fact
carry out regular campaigns of educa-
tional publicity aimed to reduce the
losses from this cause Last year a fire
chief in an Ohio city condemned and had
torn down seventeen chimneys that he
careIessness Involved
Bad construction is held to he the
chief reason for the heavy damage from
the chimney and flue hazard, although
carelessness is responsible for much of
the trouble. Carelessness figures in the
situation when lack of cleaning causes
fiue to overhead and start fire, and
when necessary repairs are neglected.
Also when unused fiue holes are stopp-
ed with papers, rags. boards and other
inhammable materials instead of with a
metal cap securely held in place.
Statistics show that over 1870 of dwell
lings house fire losses originate from de-
fective chimneys and flues, but the haz
ard is also marked in many mercantile
establishments and small town factories
of inferior construction.
Schoolhouses, too. have suffered many
chimney and flue fires.
The reasons why chimneys are such
fruitful source of fire have been sum-
med up as follows:
l. Use of terra Gotta sewer-pipe or
other unprotected tile or hollow blocks
for the chimney;
.. Construction of chimney with bricks
laid on edge instead of fiat;
8. Chimney walls built with brick fiat
wise or only one brick thick, and hues
unlined;
4. Supporting chimney on the timber
construction of building or upon brack-
cts: or insufficient masonry foundation,
when the chimney rest on the ground;
5. Two or more connections to the
same tiue;
g. Building woodkorw into the wall of
a chimney, or placing it in contact with
its exterior;
Z. Smoke-pipes arranged to enter a
chimney in vertical line;
8. Carelessness in sealing the connee-
tfon between smoke-pipe and the CHM
ney, and failure to anchor the pipe to the
chimney.
.. Carelessness in not renewing a rust
ed smoke pipe and also in allowing COM
bustible material too near the pipe;
10. Carelessness in not keeping the
chimney clean and the joints in the brick
work properly pointed.
1t often happens that old or improper
ly constructed chimneys develop cracks
in that portion passing through the at
tic and thus become a continual menace.
Sparks fly out into the attic and, owing
to the location fire thus started is like
Iy to gain considerable headway before
being discovered.
A Hazardous Combination
The combination of dilapidated CHM
ney and wooden shingIe roof is one of
the worst fire hazahds that could be de-
vised. The sparks escape through the
bricks in such a chimney and find the
tinder-lil1e wooden shingles excellent fuel
for quick action. Danger also exists at
the roof line when the flashing has been
improperly installed or when the CHM
ney walls are in direct contact with the
roof structure.
As a general thing, protection against
fire is comparatively simple and inexpen-
sive, and this is true also as far as safe
guarding chimneys and hues is concern
ed.
Heavy as are the losses from this haz-
ard, it is surprising in view of the meth !
ods of construction prevailing in many
communities, that the record is not worse /
than it is. In recent defective fiue fire
in a Pennsylvania city, as an instance
it was found that a wooden joist ran in
to the flue opening, a careless building
practice which is, unfortunately, only too
common.
A chimney should always be solidly /
built upon an Independent and indestruc1 /
tible foundation. 1t should never rest up /
on wooden construction, with the result /
that the chimney is very likely to crack
and permit the escape of sparks.
In some parts of the country it is
common practice to suspend a chimney /
from floor or roof timber by iron hang
ers. This is a dangerous custom and
should not be permitted
Owing to the great need for detailed |
and authoritative specifications covering /
the safe construction of chimneys and |
hues, the National Board of Fire Under /
writer's has prepared a model ordinance |
for town, city or state use.
AMERICANS DISCOVER NEW