Evening star., 1925-10-10
Fearful Waste in i. S. Is Held
Result of Preventable Fires

American carelessness is a cause of
fearful waste through preventa BILE
fires. the subject to which -&merican n
public opinion has turned during the
observance of F'ire.PreventiOn week.
The country's remarkable losses. as
compared with other nations, are made
the occasion for advice to think pro
tection," and for I. demand that So
Fire-Prevention weeks be observed
each year.
President Coolidge's proclamation.
designating F'ire-Prevention week and
referring to the loss of lives and prop
erty by flames in 1924, is cited by the
Springfield Illinois State Journal.
which states that the President mar
shals some very impressive facts that
should be humiliating and horrifying
to the American people. The Illinois
State Journal also quotes the Presi-
dents statements indicating concern
over the contrast between fire loss
of 81 per capita in Great Britain and
one of SIS per capita in this country.
and offers the comment that such a
ringing accusation from the President
of the United States ought TO stir
every citizen" So great is the need
of attention to the conditions, in the
patch. that I'VE should have 80 Fire
Prevention weeks in each year" This
also is advocated by the Raleigh News
and Observer.
THE self interest Of every one de-
nnands that each do his share to stop
this fearful waste of life and prop
erty,' says the Albany Evening News.
with the added admonition: "Cultivate
the habit Of guarding against fire.
Keep your premises clear of COM
bustible rubbish. Think always that
hn cif OIL
conf1agration if you were careless" "
The Importance Of educating the
children to the dangers to themselves
as well as to others" is emphasize by
the Hazleton Standard-Sentinel, which
recalls that many OF our most de-
structfve fires have been caused by
children playing with matches"
= X X
Carelessness is exhibited also. as
pointed out by the Miami Daily News,
lin allowing inflamma BILE rubbish to ac-
cllnulate and I'M neglectine to take
precautions In the use Of heating and
lighting arrangements" This is not
withstanding the fact. cited by the
Daily News, that "tlIe greater portion
of fire losses in America, is in the
larger cities. where there exist the
most modern facilities for combating
IlfSS. ne news argues Cna1 since
the cities Of. the United, States are
newer. than European. cities. and most
structures are built with the idea of
protection against fire, the ratio of
losses in America to those in Europe
ought to be the reverse of what it is
Even greater fireproof construction
is advocated by the Boston Transcript,
which offers as a special message Of
F'ire-Prevention week, Build so 1t
won't burn The Transcript feels
that lin dwellings, and business build
ings there is opportunity to adopt
many safeguards now often ignored
in the choice of materials and the
method of construction"
The economic waste due to fire
losses is the point empha sized by the
Fort Worth Star-Telegram; which
| warns it's own city that fire loss last
year in that community of IS per cap
ita has deprived the city of 'the low
sic insurance rate that had previ-
Ously been granted and adds that
lin other words, the saving that pol
icy holders had been enjoying for sew.
erai years by reason Of the city's re-
duced fire losses was swept away by
the increased losses of 1924" The AL.
toona Mirror places the responsibility
on the householder, who should make
personal investigation of the situa-
, ton and satisfy himself that no flaw
! exists"
Thinking fire protection" is, the
remedy offered by the Port Huron
Times Herald, with the added com.