The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-12-21
BEWARE Of THE
CHRISTMAS FIRE.
STATE FIRE MARSHAL ISSUES
TIMELY WARNING ON
CHRISTMAS TREE
FIRES.

Christmas again draws near and
with it the ever present fire hazard
replete with memories of suffering,
of frightful deaths and loss of
property.
This year Minnesota will cele-
brate the birth of the Redeemer in
the old fashioned way in which the
| Christmas tlee with its filmsy dec
orations and festoons of lighted toy
candles will be the chief attraction.
Around the lighted tree little tots
will dance with glee and older heads
watch their antics with satisfaction
and contentment.
A possible fire with its frightful
| consequences will be furthest from
their thoughts. Caution will be
forgotten in the knowledge that
everybody is having a good time.
Nothing occurred to mar the occa-
sion last Christmas and the Christ
mas before and it is to be presumed
that the finish will be just as happy
a one this Christmas.
1t is the old story.
That the undertaken instead of
/ Santa Claus will be the chief guest
! OF the day or that the doctor will
have to be called in aid of a child
suffering from burns instead of for
one who has eaten gluttonously of
the goodies on hand is not an over
drawn picture. 1t has happened
! and it may happen again.
AS Mr.. Burton L. Kingsley, State
Fire Marshal, points out the Christ
mas period is always one of anxiety
and his one hope is that every pre-
| caution will be taken.
! Wreaths and boughs of evergreen.
holly or mistletoe should not be
hung on walls where gas or flames
can .pissibly reach them, nor where
the heat of steam pipes and stoves,
CRATES, ETC., can play upon them for
any length of time.
| Candles on mantles O on dress
ing tables, etc., should be so ar
ranged that they can neither fire
draperies or decorations. AS soon
! after Christmas as possible all
natural wreaths, trees, and boughs
should be removed from the house
and carried away. The natural
foliage dries up and is highly infam-
mable.
Watch the kiddies carefully at
Christmas season. The blaze of
new lights and the excitement in
cident to the period may lead them
to try experiments" that will lead
to misery and woe.
! The custom of keeping candles in
windows is a pretty one, and all
right so long as the tapers are un-
| der constant supervision, but the
trouble is that while families go to
church, to school and church enter
talnments leaving the candles light
ed. Such absence of foresight has
lead to numerous fires as the cheap,
modern paraffin candle is treacher-
| Gus and in league with vagrant
drafts that steal through cracks and
crcvicea and bend the willing rane
into curtains and decora tiprs.
Christmas weather as a rule calls
for extra fires as the house is filed
with home-comers. Here enter az
o:hcr hazard. that of the unmatched
fire. Crates in rooms long unused
are pressed into service and piled
! high with fuel. Chimnevs long
neglected have become cracked and
clogged with debris. No one, unless
/ he is i'll stays in his room on Christ
mas but mingles with the gay mousse
| crowd. In the meantime the UNI
watched CRATE or stove gets in its
nefarious work. Bear in mind that
household routine breaks down un-
der the intensive harrangue of Christ
mas excitement.
Clean the chimney for Santa
| Claus! Watch your lights and fires.
Keep constant eye on the Riddles
but let them enjoy every moment
of the day-they won't if the house
takes fire. If electrical effects are
[, used have them installed by an ex-
pert. See that the wiring is safe
and not used for clothes line or a
! support for decorations and as a
final warning do not use cotton bat
4 ting for snow effects. There are
/ fireproof decorations that are bet
ter.