The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-10-02
FIRE HAZARDS Sc s. FARM

rails. These labels are evidence of fac
tory inspection and, further, that the
materials are made in compliance
with recognized standards. A de-
tailed report is filed of each installa-
ton, countersigned by both the manu-
facturer and property owner. If it is
acceptable, Underwriters Laboratories
issues a Master Label for attachment
to the structure described. In addi-
ton to this, however, the installation
itself is inspected by field represent
ative of Underwriters Laboratories,
to give complete assurance of the cor
rectness of the report and of the in
tegrity of the label.
Upon inspecting the large barn on
this farm, | found the owners auto
mobile parked there and vast guam
tity of hay, some of which was scat
tered on the floor Thus, while he had
beer careful in some respects his prop
erty was still exposed to danger. I ex-
planned that it would be safer to keep
his car in separate garage, with q
clean cement floor, adding that if it
were absolutely necessary to keep it In
the barn he should roll it outside be-
fore starting the motor, to avoid dam
ger from back-firing.
While on this subject I developed
the fact that extensive use of the gas
olinc engine for work on farms had in
recent years introduced an extreme
hazard, since it was necessary to store
fue' for the motor on the farm. Where
infiammabIe and volatile liquids are
used it is necessary to employ special
care with matches and open lights. 1t
is best to store gasoline underground
and certainly not in a frame building
or within 10 feet of any frame build
ing. 1 also explained the hazard of
ignition of gasoline vapor when the
fuel is being transferred from one
container to another. This process
generates static electricity, and if a
sufficient charge is produced and
gap is provided for the charge to jump
across, a spark may result. In order
to avoid this, the nozzle of the filling
hose should be kept in continuous con-
tact with the neck of the tank.
At this farm there was considerable
equipment for incubating and brooding
baby chickens. The owner said he
was careful in the operation of this
equipment, cleaning lamps daily and
making sure that the wicks were
turned to the right height. Such pre-
cautions eliminate most of the danger
from fires in connection with incuba-
tors and broOders. 1t was well that
the farmer had developed the habit Of
caution with oil lamps and stoves, for
his farm was not equipped with cleo
tricity and he was compelled to use
numerous lanterns and lamps for il
Illumination. l noticed that his lam
terms were protected and that the
lamps were low and had broad bases,
so that they could not be overturned
easily.
From the data gathered in my sur
vey it is evident that fire precautions
on farms are of the greatest i'm
poI AC
be so separated that if fire occurs in
one the rest will not be doomed In
common with dwellings everywhere,
there are several interior features of
rural home construction which, al
though higher in first cost than ordi-
nary work, carry with them increased
safety to life and property. Among
these are the employment of fire-re-
sistant roofing material; the provision
Of two stairways in different parts Of
the house; the enclosure of stairways,
particularly rear one that enters the
kitchen, and the installation of fire.
stopping in the walls. All Of these
features can be introduced, even in
structures of long standing.
The farmer, above all others, should
give special attention to the reduction
of fire hazards and the adoption of
protective methods. This is true for
several reasons. His house, barn and
Outbuildings usually are constructed
of combustible materials; being more
or less isolated, they are peculiarly
subject to lightning strokes; kerosene
and gasoline are likely to be stored
about the premises and used for light
and power; the farmer Grams his barn
with hay, straw and feed, all of which
are subject to spontaneous combus-
ton; and last, but by no means
least, he is nearly always beyond the
reach of organized fire protection.