Evening star., 1927-10-09
FIRE PREVENTION
WEEK OPENS TODAY
Various Agencies in Capital
Combine to Cut Do'Nn
Losses From Flames.

Fire prevention week will be OBJ
served in the District and throughout
the country beginning today. almost
exactly Sc years after Mrs. OLeary $
cow started the great Chicago fire.
That famous conflagration, which Ge.
stroycd so much of the city, started
on the night of October s, 1871, and
ragged uI.aaunsSk n mt OF October ,. j.
every one will be urged to fix atten-
ton upon efforts to reduce the mum
her of deaths and injuries and the
vast amount of property loss from fire
In accordance with a proclamation
recently issued by President Coolidge,
calling for Nationwide observance OF
fire prevention week, a proclamation
to the citizens of Washington was is
sued last Tuesday by the District Com
missioners, urging serious thought re-
garding methods to control fire.
Teachers Aid Urged.
School teachers are requested to in
still in the minds of their pupils the
Importance of care in preventing
fires, and civil organizations are asked
to call to the attention Of their mem
bers the purpose of the week.
The District Fire Department plans
10 cooperate with the schools and the
TO the attention of the pupils and the
public facts concerning the enormous
annual losses from fires and sugGes-
tions for their prevention. \ circular
has been prepared under the direction
Of DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superlntend-
ent of schools, directing all teachers,
officers and ianitorS in the school Sys-
TEN to see that inflammable waste ma
teral of every kind is removed from
school buildings and grounds. Par
ticular attention is to be given to the
regular school fire drills. Teachers
will give short talks on fire preven-
ton to their classes. All fire eXtin-
guishers will be inspected, and teach
ers have been urged to bring the sub
iect of fire prevention to the attention
of their pupils in any other ways that
may suggest themselves.
To Guide Public.
For the guidance Of the public the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States has offered suggestions de-
signed to eliminate fire hazards in the
home. The Importance of the problem
is seen from the fact that thousands
of persons We're killed and injured
last year and property valued at
$560,000,0 600 was destroyed. 1t is eN-
planned that ordinary precautions
would have eliminated much of this
loss.
Particular attention is being paid
TO the question Of heating homes,
which is now uppermost in the minds
of people in every part of the United
States except the far South.
Before the fires are started" says
a statement issued by the United
States Chamber of Commerce. lit is
important that careful attention be
given to chimneys and f1ues: for, if
they are neglected, the entire home
may be destroyed by fire. In 1925
property valued in excess of S21,000,-
900 was destroyed because of fires
which originated in defective chin
EeyS and flues. The larger part of
if inspections had been made, SCOT
cleaned out and the necessary repairs
made before the heating units were
put into operation in the Fall"
Persons are warned against the
careless use of oils and gasoline. 1t
is pointed out that they can be made
perfectly safe by the exercise of a
little caution. They are said to have
caused fire destruction of more than
Sl0.o0o,o00 during the year 1925.
Disorder and Untidiness.
MANY lives are lost" says the
statement, through using kerosene
and gasoline to start fires in stoves
and furnaces. This is a most danger
Gus practice. Oily mops and rags often
cause fires from spontaneous combus-
ton. They should, therefore, be
kept in closed metal containers where
air cannot reach them.''
Upward of SIS 5000, 900 in damage
Is traced to improperly installed and
used electric wires for light, heat and
power. Everybody is urged to have
all electrical apparatus installed by
skilled workmen and frequently in
spected.
Disorders and untidiness breed
fires" it is stated. Careful atten-
ton should be given by the house.
holder to the removal of all rubbish
from cellars, attics and cupboards"
Last, but not least, the tobacco
smokers are warned to be careful.
Attention is called to the fact that
lighted matches and cigar and ciga-
rette butts were responsible in 1925
for a fire loss exceeding 10000, 900.