The Mankato free press., 1923-09-21
FIREPREVENTION WEEK

Again Fire Prevention Week ap-
proaches and this year its observ-
ance will cover the period from Oc
tober 7 to 13 inclusive. October 9
of this same week will mark the
fifty second anniversary of the
great Chicago fire. To those con-
cerned with the suppression Of the
Fire Fiend and the great loss Of
property and life which annually
follows in it's wake the week Is OF
more than ordinary importance, and
extensive plans are In the making
for its proper celebration by NUM-
cipalities and fire prevention off,
cials generally throughout the
state.
Through the medium of parades,
speeches, lectures, the pulpit, the
schools and other forms OF educa-
ton and propaganda the great les
sons of Fire Prevention will sbe car
ried direct to every home in Mime
sofa and the individual impressed
with the necessity of common, sense
observance of the same. Observ-
ance of the week will be national in
its scope.
In Minnesota the setting aside of
the period from October to Octo-
ber 13 as Fire Prevention Week
will be officially promulgated in a
proclamation soon to be issued by
Gov. j. A. o. Preus and for the ma
ton by President Coolidge. Plans
and a program for the proper OBJ
seYvance of the week are being pre-
pared by Burton L. Kingsley, State
Fire Marshal for Minnesota and mu-
inequalities and Fire Prevention Of
ficials throughout the state Will be
requested to give all possible aid in
the carrying out of the same.
The importance OF Fire PreVen-
tion Week" and the lessons its pro-
per observance will convey can pc
realized when it is known that the
fire loss in America last year ex-
ceeded $521, ,000,0 and that fatali-
ties resulting were nearly $4,000 In
number. The fire loss was the great
est by any twleve months period In
the worlds history and was supple
mented by fatalities that fairly stag
ger, AS in the case of fires In Min
nesota. much of both are due to the
great American habit Of careless
ness and this those in charge Of
Fire Prevention week hope to mini
mize. - T.. .
As State, MarShal views p.
AS State Fire Marshal Kingsley
views 1t fire and the destruction OF
property which naturally follows
can not be entirely eliminated, put
the chances of such can be greatly
reduced by education and Fire Pre-
yerttion Week is the great opportun-
ity to bring 1t about in Minnesota
at least. Make 1t a Fireless Week,
he says. "
many things can be done In carry
ing direct to the community and the
Individual the value Of Fire Pre-
vention and the necessity OF con,
slant vigilance in the safeguarding
of property and life. In previous
years civic and commercial organ1-
cations cooperating with local city,
town and village officials have taken
charge and by parades participated
in by the local fire department and
Fire Prevention officials, public,
addresses by city officials and 9TH
ers. Sunday church talks by clergy
men. a program of exercises In the
schools and q thorough clean up OF
all premises and buildings have ma
terially reduced the fire hazard and
awakened the people to the know
ledge and value of Prevention
Similar activities will feature the
observance of the week this year
and it is planned to supplement
them with other ideas and schemes
of prevention character: The week
can be made a memorable one and
to this end Marshal Kingsley in
vites every municipality in the state
to do its bit. Business men and
fire department officials can aid ma
terially by a program Of inspection
! and the removal Of all waste and
! fire hazards where possible. In past
years public bonfires of waste and
rubbish have been an important
feature. H..