The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-03-18
('Rourke Holds ;Them Responsible
 For Many Fires
Cifcs Eectrocution of ChiId Due to Imperfect Equip Manufacturers Join in Producing PrOtec- five Cords, Guaranteed to Prevent Accidents


 ne ofice of Electrical Inspector 1faf'in c. O'Rourke Is taking an acfI48 part in the fight against de- fectife lamp cord, cheap and in- 4eFior appliance cords which cause nun1hTDus fires. Safety officials and e1erIfieaI inspection authorities hay& been deeply concerned by the incf fsed number of fires and acci- dcn& which have been traced to the Aoscalled bootleg type of elec- tricH cords.
 ne efforts to deal with this sit- uatiHn and to protect life and prop erty~ have been made difficult by fbe Tact that safe, well-made cord ard unreliable type look very much alike to the untrained eye. and-hy the fact that the average woman vii, select the smallest and usually the least dependable cord she can find for the sake of ap- pearSnce, Mir O'Rourke said today.
 WMh an increasing number of firess inspection authorities and electrical manufacturers have talk en aetive steps to protect the citi- zens by making 1t possible for them or for retailers to sell electrical equipment bearing cord to readily identify safe dependable material. and Food electrical cord is now Identified at intervals of five feet by assmall bracelet-like safety lab- el of Underwriters Laboratories; hence reliable grade of electrical cord now coming into the city Is marked with this new label, the local inspector stated.
 Continuing, he explained these little labels are furnished in four colotB: A bright yellow label iden- tifiesk the form of flexible cord which should be used on porta ble lamps. radios and similar things. A blue tlabel indicates the form of heater cord which is suitable for use with electrical coasters, perco- lators and heating appliances where the fexibility of the cord is not at0o important. A red label identjfjes the form of heater cord which Should be used on electric irons A gold label marks the new est form of long-life heater cord being Furnished with the more ex- pensive forms of electric irons.
 MfsD'Rourke strongly recon merSHs that frayed or patched cords which are now in use be re- placed with identified material and esp4Eially in these homes where wh1thave any question as to reli- abiIt1y of cord now attached to portable lamps or electrical appli- anc& &call in an electrical contractor andstake his advice as to whether q a hA or r5placed.
 E3e electrical Inspector has re- ceiT4d reports of accidents that have been caused by portable and extension cords. In one instance a chil6 eleven months old was elec- trocpted while playing on the floor of his home. Owing to the lack of convsnient outlets. the radio was plugged in a socket of the lighting fixttffe by means of an extension cor6 the regular cord on the radio set 1ot being long enough. The key Booklet on this extension cord hadsA brass shell and defective key (which lossened from it's bear- ingaand made contact between the live Gvirc and the shell of the sock ct. Within reach of the socket was a fi6br register from the furnace. The2baby evidently icrawled on the regi&ker with the socket in one hand and the other hand on the regi1ler, thus making contact to grothd. The mother of the child, busT.in the kitchen heard the child gasp~ ran in and picked the child l1p bat it was too late.
 F&xible cords are about the only Iine8 footage wiring material used in the interior of buildings which is out W control of inspection author ities& largely through making in- spec&ion of private building.
 TNe losses charged against fiexi- ble &brds in the fire record of New York city for one year amounted to $35o. 600.
 TMe following report of a fire is take from the fire prevention 0ui-
 A{hort while ago. fire started in a new home less than two months aftess the occupants had moved In. Theeause of the fire was stated as defective wiring. The inspection recoFds were disclosed and it was foula that the work was done by renutable contractor and at com pietfon it was carefully inspected. On Further investigation it was fouilQ that the lady of the house wanfed an extra light installed in neSeorner of the basement where son1& discarded furniture was to be stored. She made no inquiries to findeA licensed contractor but gave the Work to a man who knocked