Evening star., 1927-10-22
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

appearance Of q junk heap at its
worst.
Chimney fires probably result, in
most cases, from trying to force the
heating plant in very cold weather,
but also they probably arise from the
failure of householders to make a
practice of having the pipe leading
from the furnace to the chimney re-
placed every or 4 years, and the
chimney itself cleaned out, especially
at the base where the galvanized pipe
is cemented in.
Often such a pipe is so rotted out
inside that one may poke a finger
through it, yet it shows no particular
evidence of decay from the outside;
in fact the pipe may be quite shiny in
appearance. Take it down, however,
and examine it from 'the inside look.
| ing out" it shows up for what it is
a fire hazard.
| 1t Is interesting to note, however
| that only rs fires are laid to the door
of stoves. which designation includes
| heating plants. This would seem to
| indicate that the home gas stove is
| not such a source of danger as our
| own list would indicate. Probably most
Gas-caused fires are put out in the
home before the engines arrive.
Electrical wiring and appliances
were responsible for III cases. Most
Of the new homes in the District have
been wired according to a fixed stand
| ard. At any rate, the wiring within
| the walls is without the province of
the average home-owner. lie must
trust to God. the District insnector
and the builder.
He can be responsible. however,
| for seeing to it that the correct fuses
are used In the box in the basement
remembering that to replace a blown
| fuse with one higher than 10 or IS
amperes is to defeat the purpose of
such safety valves. In the case of
| the use of washing machines, and so
on, there may be exceptions to this
| fuie, but to put in a fuse Of 30 or
| 90 amps merely to prevent q blow
out Is wrong practice. If your fuses
blow out continually, it Is new wiring
you need, not heavier fuses.
X y 81
Sparks and chimney fires may or
may not be related to heating plants.
| The need for non-combustible roofs is
plainly indicated here.
Prayed electric cords in a home offer
another source of danger. Many Iamn
| cords become frayed at the base,
where the cord enters the convenience
outlet. Such a condition is theoreti-
cally dangerous. and may be actually
| so.
Amateur wiring is another plain
source Of fire hazard, as is the use of
al sorts Of cheap electrical materials.
Electricity is too mighty a force to
trust to the tender mercies of frail
cords and cheap sockets. Nothing but
the best should be used, If one wants
to play as safe as possible.
The keeping Of combustible mate.
rails, such as gasoline, etc, in the
home is another source of danger.
Most of these may as easily be kept
outside the house, since they will
not freeze.
Reviewing the causes, it is seen
That matches, smoking and careless
| ness in general, together with the
harboring Of leaves and trash, consti.
tute the major sources Of fire danger
in the home.
1t is well for the home.owner +o
consider the case of his own home in
regard to these dangers, whether ii
be Fire Prevention Week" or not,
and to insure himself and his neigh.
bors in so far as possible from fire
by appropriate action following.