The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-06-05
FIRE REGULATIONS
UNDERGO CHANGES
IN MANY CITIES
Study Of Causes Leading to Adoption
OF FOre.Safe Roofs Through.
Out the Country.

During the five years 1916 to 1920
Americans have ben burning up prop
erty at the rate of s334,544,53 a year
according to the National Board of
Fire Underwriters which has been
making a study of more than 100000
fires occurring within that time. The
total loss, for the period, of s1,672,722,-
CIT would, according to engineering
authorities, be sufficient to build 1884,
900 dwellings at $1,000 each,-enough
housing to care for 100000 persons.
This is equivalent to the confined pop
ulation of Connecticut, Nevada and
Wyoming.
The figures show that the value of
property destroyed by fires commune
Gated through the roof was $223.OOO,-
OOO Study Of these and similar figures
are leading to drastic changes in fire
regulations in many cities of the coun-
try. Roof fires are among those con-
sidered easily preventable and steps
are being taken with that end in view.
Fire department records in many cit
les show that about forty pc cent, of
all conflagrations have resulted from
sparks and flaming embers carried by
high winds to the roofs of nearby
buildings. 1t is declared that if prop
er care had been exercised and fire.
resistant roofing materials used when
these buildings were erected most OF
the losses would have been averted'
In the early part Of last ear the cit
liens of Indianapolis, Ind, began a
campaign Of fire prevention. Before
1.-THE campaign was launched city Off
cials Joined with representatives of
the indianapolis Chamber of Com
merce in gathering information. A fire
prevention campaign has been con-
lducted in Cincinnati. O., where it was
found there had been 1872 fires dur
ling 1920. indianapolis had suffered s.
465 conflagrations the same year, not
withstanding that the Hoosier cap
ital was then only one-half as large as
Cincinnati and had approximate yonl!
one-half her property valuation. Gin
cinnati had only Sc roof fires that veal
while Indianapolis had 1,4O0. The me-
result of the indianapolis campaign
for fire-safe roofs was reduction II
1921 of $3.50, 1000 in losses and $50 II
the number of fires. OF 1,199 fires l,
! indianapolis reported by Fire Chic
OBrien of that city in 1922, $50 wer'
still directly chargeable to imam
mable roofing. New York City ant
/ Chicago we're the only cities LEADING
Indianapolis in the number OF fires
"In the year 1911" says Fire Chie
fO'Brien. Indianapolis had a fire los
! of somewhat over 100000 and tota
I of less than s1,7OO fire alarms. Thi
fire loss increased by leaps an
bounds year after year, until W
! reached loss of more than $1,sOo,oo
! in 1920, with a grand total OF 3,46
fires" This increase in fires, he sayt
necessitated the constant enlargement
J of the fire department until the cos
\ OF maintenance reached 100000
wear. An ordinance has ben intro
duccd In the Indianapolis cit counc'
providing for tho elimination OF a.
wooden shingle roofs within cigh
\ years. ,
Fire department records In Wabash
Ind. show that OF 80 fires in that cit
l from January 1 to March this yea
25 were duo to wooden shingle roof
] I'm IndInnnnnlia and ClncInnal