Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-18
NO CHICAGO FIRE
IF ELECTRICITY
HAD BEEN IN USE
Electricity Is Boon in Sup
pressing Fire But Must
Be Carefully Guarded to
Avoid Causing Flames
BY THE FIREMAN

Electricity Has long since passed
from the experimental stage to oc-
Cupy position OF great necessity.
Electric lighting is a boon to hu-
manity, while each day electrical
appliances perform an actual saw
ing in labor which aggregates CEN
turies.
Electricity, especially in light
ing has also played its part i'm re-
ducing fire losses. Electric illum-
ination in the cities and through a
goodly portion Of the country dis
tricts and the use of electric
flashlights has eliminated most Of
the old danger which formerly eX-
isted--and still exists in outlying
distrlcts-through the use of can-
dies torches, oil lamps and gas
lighting.
Tho great Chicago fire would
probably never have occurred had
the conditions of today obtained.
Many farm buildings throughout
the country are now electrically
lighted. This is almost an absolute
rule in the case OF farms and
diaries situated close to large cities,
where current is fed to the outly-
ing districts. So, under existing
conditions Mrs. O'Leary's dairy
house would have been electrically
lighted and there would have been
no lantern for the now historic COW
to have kicked over.
Yet electricity is atill a danger
Gus enemy for those who devote
themselves to combating the fire
menace. Itris rather the handling
of 1t than electricity itself, which
constitutes this inimical trend,
Most OF the danger lies in pure
carelessness or ignorance.
Cases Of improper installation are
becoming infrequent in this day
and IL properly maintained electric
current becomes the ally it IS In
tended, instead Of an enemy.
When electric lights are out the
current is always there as far SIS
tho switch which cuts it off. Be
cause of this 1t is always essential
in turning off lights, shutting off
fan or motor or cutting off the
current from any device that the
current should be cut off at a per-
manent switch. Where any sort
Of extension is used, cord wiring of
any description, the switch should
never be at the end Of the eXten-
sion. 1t should always be back of
it, thus cutting off the current at
the safe point.
Many of the fires caused by ulec.
tricity,-aside from those caused
by static electricity etc.--can be
tracedto the amatuer electrician, In
hanging wiring and putting in eN-
tensions for convenience
An extension wire or cord should
be inspected regularly and at first
sign of wear should be replaced by
a new one. They should never be
allowed to lie on the floor or to rub
against anything which may wear
ofC the insulation. And should
never be hung on nails or metal OF
any kind. If an extension requires
hanging. tie a stout cord to 1t and
hang from the loor.
Proper care of motors is an inn
portant essential in fire prevention.
Never allow a motor TO become dir
ty and greasy as 1t will collect dust
and lint and a spark from the
commutator will ignite It and per-
haps cause a serious fire. No mo-
tor should he set in wet or even
damp place or place whore
rubbish may gather and should be
far enough from wood or Other
inflammable material so that ir
case the armature should burn out
there would be no other danger
In a business house where all
lights are extinguished for tho
night the current should he shut
off at the main switch every night
Where police light is left burning
1t should he connected direct from
the switchboard or block, so TINT
all other current may be shut Off.
Where electric lights are used