Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-10-20
w. VA. FIRE LOSS LESS FOR
SEPTEMBER

Charleston. Oct. 15-Another rec
ord denoting Improvement in the FIRE
line in West Virginia was made Iast
month, according to a report bv tbe
State Fire Marshal department
There We're Al fires reported ;.
the department during Septemhep
and in % of these the loss was er
tire and in 10 partial. The month";
fire waste for the state was sane
075, reduction of S38,85O, or II
per cent, from the loss in the same
month in 1925. The sound value ~
the property attacked was $608.8I0
and the insurance $3S7,250.
For the first quarter of the fiscal
year ending September 30, the loss
in West Virginia from 1872 fires was
S838,O4O, an increase of S56.314. or
seven per cent, over the correspond
ing period last year. ~
For the II months ending same
date, the loss was S6,302,S95. an in
crease of S214,890, or four per cent
over the twelvemonth preceding
There were LIB fires reported dur
ing that period.
Twenty-Five counties reported
September fires. Twelve of these
counties reported lesser losses thar
for the same month the year before
two reported greater losses and eiobt
reported substantially the same loss
es. Two counties in September
Kanawha and Wood-suffered moro
than 70 per cent of the total loss for
the state, or S228,000.
The property attacked by the fire
demon last month is classified as fol
lows: 10 dwellings, 8 stores, 3 mann
factories, warehouses. 2 garages
2 barns, automobile. office, resfan.
rant and school house.
Fifteen of the fires were of nm
known, two of incendiary and four
of suspicious origin. Three fires
caught from adjoining premises, four
were caused by defective flues. two
by children playing with fire, one bv
burning rubbish, one by faulty cleo
trio wires and one by an electric
IRON, two by gasoline explosions. two
by lightning, one by carelessness with
a smoke house and one by ignition
of woodwork from a stove.
The Fire Marshal department in
September made $50 inspections and
issued eight orders in connection
Herewith. Eleven suspicious fires
were investigated-two in CabeII
county, two in Wyoming, three in
Wood and one each in Berkeley
Harrison, Monongalia and Mcdowell
coutIes: There were two deaths and
II accidents from fire, the fatalities
both occurring in Mercer county.
The counties reporting September
fires and the percentage increases
and decreases compared with Sep
TENDER 1925 were:
Barbour. $1,000, decrease 25 per
cent; Berkeley, $1,000, decrease 81
per cent; Brooke, $3.50, decrease
80 per cent; Cabell, S5,525. decrease
63 per cent; Hancock, $40, 900. same
as last year; Harrison, $3.50, same
as last year; Jefferson, $4,000, same
as last year; Kanawha, S123,10O. in
crease 1886 Der cent; Lewis, 50, 700.
decrease 10 per cent: Marshall,
9l,600, decrease 80 per cent; Mer-
Ger, $500, decrease 81 per cent:
mineral, $50, same as last year; Nc
DoWell, $4,000. same as last year;
Nicholas. $4,000. decrease 81 ser
cent; Ohio, 5000, decrease 90 per
cent; Pocahontas. $175, same as last
year; Preston, $4,000, same as last
year. Randolph, $3.50, decrease 50
per cent; Roane, $500, decrease 90
Per cent; Wayne, 1925, decrease 80
rer cent; Wetzel, $3.50, same as last
year Wood, S105,700, increase 202
per cent.