Evening star., 1938-10-09
F:|REPREVENT|ON
( WEEK IS OPENED
Proclamation Is Issued by
Commissioners Asking
Citizens to Aid.

Encouraged by reduction Of fires
during the last fiscal year but mind
full of the IL Washingtonians who
died from burns, District officials is
sued a city-Wide appeal for earnest
thought and consideration" of fire
prevention measures in connection
with the opening of National Fire Pre-
vention Week today,
During the calendar year 1887 in
the United States thousands OF lives
and property valued at 100000
were unnecessarily destroyed by fire,
and to the end that this steadily
mounting drain upon the resources
of the Nation may be decreased to a
minimum it behooves all good citi-
zens to lend their aid" proclama-
ton signed by Commissioners Melvin
c. Hazen and David McCoach, jr., de-
clared.
District firemen, headed by Fire
Marshal Calvin G. LAUDER, already
have begun a campaign in the schools,
addressing assemblies and warning the
children against careleSsness. Like
wise fire-prevention inspections have
been started 'by the department.
Last year 62,921 inspections were COM
pleted.
Park Service Acts.
The National Park Service, which
has charge of all Federal buildings
here and throughout the country, as
well as millions of acres Of forest
land, also has issued an inspection
order, calling for the checking of all
heating units. The orders further warn
employees against careleSsneSs in dis
posing of matches, cigarette butts and
other smoking material
During the fiscal year ending last
June 30 there were 3,499 actual fires
in the District, a decrease of 285
under the previous year, according to
statistics compiled by Marshal LAUDER
There were 524 false alarms, result
ing in court action involving 33
persons.
Eleven persons died of burns while
1o8 others were burned or otherwise
injured in connection with fires, Mr.
LAUDER said. Three persons died and
20 were burned in fires caused by
careless smoking. Six persons died
and 20 were injured in fires caused
by careless or improper use of inf1am-
mable liquids, particularly gasoline
Mr.. LAUDER added.
While fires decreased in number,
Mr.. LAUDER said, fire losses increased
some s432,3 The total fire loss dur
ing the fiscal year 1888 was S726,363,
as compared with $294,004 in 1887
Seventy-six per cent of the fire loss
occurred in only l per cent of the
fires, he said.
Decrease of Auto Fires.
Reports showed a decrease of 1870 in
automobile fires or a total of 742 dur
ing the last fiscal year.
Careless smoking caused 573 local
fires, a decrease of only %. Beds were
set afire 127 times, davenports Is times
and upholstered chairs So times in this
manner. OF "a awning fires, 68 were
directly traceable to the habit of dis
carding still-burning cigar or cigarette
stubs from windows, Mr.. LAUDER as
serted
Reports, received by. the United
States Chamber of Commerce show
that dwelling house fires have been
more or less steadily increasing in
recent years, while fires in most other
occupancies have declined Estimates
for the year 1886 are that there
were about 0,0O0 fires in dwellings
involving a loss of approximately
$l00,000,000. 1t is further estimated
that around 1000 of the 10000 annual
fire fatalities in the United States
occur in dwelling houses and that a
large number of these are women and
children.
Fire Prevention Week, proclaimed
by President Roosevelt is an after
math of the great fire. of Chicago
In 1871.