Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-05-03
SMOKERS CAUSE MANY FIRES.
Said to be Responsible for Twenty
Per Cent Forest Fires iii West.

Washington, d. c., April 20. -
Twenty per cent of all the forest fires
started by man in the national for
ests of the West during 1921 were
caused by careless tobacco smokers,
according to figures compiled by the
forest service, United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture. In California,
Arizona and New Mexico one out Of
every four forest fires due to human
agencies was started by burning Gig
arettes, cigars, matches or pipe-heels
carelessly thrown aside by smokers
while in the woods. In other parts
Of the West the percentage of smok-
ers' fires ranged from IL to 1S per
cent. The total number Of forest
fires on the western national forests
during the past season was 5,131, Of
which number 1,444 were caused by
lightning, 732 by smokers and 1856
by other human agencies.
"A Serious Fire Hazard.
Careless smokers, foresters point
out, are responsible for one Of the
most serious fire hazards in the coun-
try, because they fail to take proper
precautions with burning tobacco
and matches. The preventable fire
waste Of all kinds from these causes
averages more than $1S,O00,0OO a
year, according to figures published
by the National Board Of Fire I'M
| derwriters. The "tailor-made" Gig
arctic is the principal offender in the
woods, where a glowing "snipe"
thoughtlessy thrown down on the
forest floor may cost the public
thousands OF dollars for fire fighting,
to say nothing of the value of tim
Der destroyed, the desolation Of
scenic beauty spots and the harm
done to waterflow and wild life.
Disastrous results from smoking
In thc woods are most to be feared
when the inflammable material that
is nearly everywhere present be-
comes very dry. In the West this
condition is most generally chronic
throughout the summer. The in
creasing popularity Of the national
forests, which were visited last year
by more than 5,250,O0O motorists,
| tourists and sportsmen, makes the
prevention and control Of smokers
fires more and more difficult. TO les
sen the fire risk, and to set good
example, the forest rangers ana otn-
er field officers of the forest service
have very generally pledged them
selves noi to smoke in the woods in
| regions and IN seasons OF danger
C1-opcration is Sought.
Repeated efforts have been made
by the forest service, the National
Board of Fire Underwriters and
| other organizations to enlist the CO.
operation of tobacco manufacturers
and packers in educating smokers to
be careful with burning tobacco.
Some Of these organizations hold
that since the hazard of fire is insep-
arabic from the use of smoking to-
bacco, moral obligation rests upon
manufacturers or packers of tobacco
to enclose f1re-warning slips with
| their products. Resolutions embody-
ing this sentiment have been passed
by the National Convention Of In
surance Commissioners, tho Fire
Marshals' Association Of North
America, the International Associa-
tion of Fire Engineers, and the Rail
way Fire Protective Association.
In Canada, tobacco manufacturers
are now enclosing a little red fire.
warning slip in each Of their cigar
cite packages. Similar slips, featur-
Ing care with fire In the home and in
the forest, are also inserted in match
boxes by one of the largest match
companies, and in cartridge pack
ages by number of the leading
small arms and ammunition MAUI
facturers Of the United States.
To Stop Cough Quick
take HAYES HEALING HONEY n