The Washington times., 1930-10-07
fire LOSSE S
REACH HIGH
MARKS
This Week Designated as Fire
Prevention Week as Aid
In Curbing Huge Loss
BY FRANK F. LOOMS

by fdANh e LOONA1S
In order to help reduce the
terrible loss of life and destruc-
ton of millions Of dollars worth
Of property in the United States
every year by fire, this week,
from october S to II, has been
set aside as FIRE PREVENTION
WEEK throughout the country.
People Of the United States
lost $2,678,77S,484 in the past
five years by fire, the nations
highest property losses in his
tory. Insurance has been the
only restorative. The reported
estimated fire loss for the month
Of August this year was $780,
043, $40. This is in excess of the
same month last year by 1896.
1856. The total loss for the first
eight months of 1880 is estimated
to be $313.231, 100, which cor
responds with $292,525,181 for the
same period in 1929.
Economic Burden
Our enormous fire waste nco
only constitutes an ever-presert
danger to life and property. but
has reached the proportion of an
economic burden. When struc-
lures are demolished by fire and
not rebuilt, ss is so often the
case, taxes formerly paid on
them must Of necessity be pro-
rated over other properties.
Heavy fire losses also increase
tax levies in general for the pur-
pose of increasing fire-fighting
facilities of the community TO
the end that the safety and
progress of the city or town may
thus be furthered.
Heavy losses naturally effect in
surance rates adversely. This for
the reason that the insurance com.
panies must necessarily collect suf-
ficient funds in premiums to pay
losses and cover their operating
expenses. Since taxes and the
cost of insurance protection enter
into the overhead of every bust.
ness, it is clear that our fire waste
has become a factor of great i'm
portance in the expense of operat-
ing industry and in the cost OF
living.
To prevent fire is every citizens
responsibility. 1t is to your in
terest, personally. to prevent fire,
because every dollar lost through
fire adds to your fire burden. You
pay your share of it one way or
another.
You pay through higher insur-
ance rates-for rates and losses
maintain a fairly constant ratio
and fire insurance rates cannot be
lowered until the fire waste Of the
nation is reduced.
Pay For Loss
You pay for the loss OF mate.
rial-for wealth that is burned UP
ceases to work for its owner, civi-
lization, for you.
You pay through your fellow
mans employment. You suffer
when another continues to be a
consumer, but ceases to be a pro
ducer.
You pay through business fric'
ton. Every untitled contract
every failure to deliver, every OBJ
stacle to turning wheels anywhere
checks and slows up to some de,
gree the wheels that are turning
everywhere else.
Fire authorities state that fully
90 per cent of fires are prcventa-
BILE through the exercise Of ordi-
nary care. Resolve now that no
fire shall ever be charged to your
carelessness or negligehcel
Cooperation Urged
~ Lend your wholehearted CO.
operation to the national move
ment to prevent fire-not only
during Fire Prevention Week, but
at all times. Stock fire insurance
companies, through the National
Board of Fire Underwriters and
other organizations, are the orig
inators of Fire Prevention Week,
which for several years now has
been an occasion for presidential
proclamation.