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.
brate the birth of the Redeemer in
the old fashioned way in which the
Christmas tlee with its flmsy 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
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
J 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 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 infiam-
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 pretty one, and all
right so long as the tapers are un.
der constant supervision, but the
trouble is that while families 90 to
church, to school and church enter.
tainments leaving the candles light.
ed. Such absence of foresight ha;
lead to numerous fires as the cheap
modern paraffin candle is treacher
Gus and in league with vagrani
drafts that steal through cracks anc
crevices and bend the willing, iaIne
into curtains and decora tiors.
Christmas weather as a rule calls
for extra fires as the house is filled
with home-comers. Here enter al
o:hcr aa7srd. that of the unmatched
fire. Crates in rooms long unused
are pressed into service and piled
high with fuel Chimneys Ions
neglected have become cracked anC
!, clogged with debris. No one, unles.
he is ill stays in his room on Christ
|, HAS UuI HiiHSlcS Will Tile gay mouse
crowd. In the meantime the un
watched CRATE or stove gets in it
nefarious work. Bear in mind tha
household routine breaks down un
, der the intensive harrangue of Christ
!, mas excitement.
Clean the chimney for SAINT:
;. Claus! Watch your lights and fires
Keep a constant eye on the kiddie
but let them enjoy every momen
of the day-they won't if the hous,
, takes fire. If electrical effects ar,
used have them installed by an ex
, pert. See that the wiring is SAT-
: and not used for clothes line or
!. support for decorations and as
final warning do not use cotton bat
!. ting for snow effects. There ar
!. fireproof decorations that are bet
ter.