The Washington times., 1926-10-02
FIRES BLAMED
ON OFFICIALS

ostensibly the slogan for Fire
Prevention Week this year is
Somebody Was Careless" It is
the basis of the predominant poster
in use for the occasion just as it is
used upon the letter stickers which
have been scattered by the thou.
sands from coast to coast and from
the lakes to the gulf. And in this
way it is rather impressive.
One is constrained to wonder just
when that carelessness began when
he reads the comment of the United
States Geological Survey on Build.
ing Operations in the Large Cities
in 1919." dealing with the erection
and alteration OF buildings in IFS
large cities in that year.
FAN interesting fact" says the
report, sis the larger proportion II
wooden buildings reported-67 per
cent of the total number of classt-
fled operations, 73 per cent OF all
new operations and SO per cent OF
additions and alterations being Of
that material.
although many Of these build
ings were undoubtedly small. the
average cost per new operation
81 ,294--and of additions and re-
PAIRS 545-would indicate that
the operations In general were Of
fair size, but the fact remains that
in the larger cities Of the country,
where 1t would be expected that
wooden construction would be linn
tied both by expediency and by
law, nearly three-fourths Of the
number Of all new buildings erected
in 1919 were Of wood, the total
being 136,S20 new structures and
80. 70S alterations or repairs. |"
Considering these facts in con.
junction with the constantly in
creasing fire losses in the United
States it would impress the casual
observer that the carelessness was
chiefly on the part of the municipal
official whose duty 1t was to pro-
vide building codes that would In
sure adequate fire safety.
Recent court decision in half =
dozen or more States foreshadow
the early day when State legisla
lures will be taking more definite
notice of the losses from commune
Gated fires and the responsibility
therefor. In Ohio, Texas, Michigan.
3AldDdllldR 14OulSldIlc anu 1ElAACSGCd
the courts within the last year
have rendered decisions awarding
damages to fire sufferers who were
able to prove that the fires were
due to carelessness on the part Of
their neighbors.
While such decisions would not
be in accordance with the laws of
many States they are in strict COM
pliance with the Biblical injunction
set forth in the sixth verse of the
itwenty-second chapter of Exodus
which reads:
ssIf fire break out, and catch
In the@thorns, so that the stacks
of corn. or the standing corn,
or the field. be consumed there
with; he that kindled the fire
shall surely make restoration"
America has been strangely lax !
the enactment of laws or ordi-
nances imposing penalty upon those
persons in whose homes or business
blocks fires originate. With us fires
have come to be regarded general y
as accidental occurrences to which
no condemning blame is attached
and for which no punitive provision
is made. Our diversified types of
construction and equipment arc
probably largely responsible for this
condition. With cases of arson. OF
course, there is an exception.
1t is different abroad. The older
countries have come to regard fire
| for what it is. They appreciate
fully it's menace, its possibilities
both as affecting property and life.
And in many of these countries are
stringent laws, rigidly enforced
which hold the man upon whose
premises a fire develops, responsible
for the damage and an offender