The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-14
ANNUAL FARM FIRE
WARNING RELEASED
Weaver Reminds Rural People
OF Heavy Losses From
Fires In Rurl Homes

WINTER nOuSenOlderS DeSln 10 tnlLk
of heating the home. About this
time very year David S. Weaver,
head of the Department of Agri-
cultural Engineering, issues his an
nual plea to farm people to beware
of fire hazards. He reminds rural
people that millions C dollars in
valuable property and equipment
is lost every year on the farm IS
the result Of their e-:re,essness in
checking hues, chimneys, electri-
cal appliances and the like at this
season.
Here is Prof. Weaver's 1910
warning against fires: while there
are many, many causes of farm
fires, the vast majority are start
ed from eight causes. These causes
are, without exception, due to care
lessness or the S of defective
equipment"
Poorly constructed or defective
hues and chimneys rank first as
a cause of fire Second is inflam-
mable roofing material which ig-
mites when sparks settle on it.
Lightning comes next in the ru-
raj sections, followed by spontan-
eous combustion, careless use of
smoking materials, improper hand
ling of kerosene and gasoline, de-
fective stoves and furnaces, a n d
lack of safe and adequate wiring
for electricity or the wrong use
Of electric appliances"
Suggests Survey of House
AS a suggestion to help in the
elimination of defective equipment,
and to insure against carelessness,
Prof. Weaver says an analysis
should be made of the fire hazards
in the home. Go from room to
room and with a pencil and paper
check over the fire hazards" he
advises. I'm this survey you may
discover other possible sources Of
fire. After checking the items, room
By room, then decide just wha'
corrections and changes could be
made at once;. and do these. Their
lay systematic plans to correct al
of the hazards"
AS an aid in making such a sur.
vey, the State college engineer has
provided a set of questions to be
asked in, and about, each room
For instance, in the kitchen where
most fires start: Does the stove
pipe fit into the chimney flue snug
ly? Is it necessary for the stove
pipe to pass through a partition.
and, if so, is the partition protect
ed by a metal thimble? How close
does the stove pipe come to the
walls and ceiling, and could this
distance be increased? Is the range
set well away from the wall? Does
it have a metal mat extending al
least a foot in front of 1t to pre-
vent ashes and sparks from fall
ing on the wooden floor?
Is all woodwork near the stove
protected by a metal surface? i
the. can of kerosene or gasoline
stored in the safest possible place
if it is necessary to store it in
the kitchen? Where are the matches
kept? Are used matches deposited
in a c%ontainer at some distance
from unused matches and other
inflammable material? Is the stove
pipe properly supported at regular
intervals? Do the joints of the pipe
fit snugly into each other? 10.
Smokers Should Be Careful
Passing on to the living room,
are the same precautions observed
in connection with flue and stove
pipe if the room is heated with
stoves or standard heaters? If a
fireplace is used for heating, is
it protected by an ample hearth?
Are fire screens available to be
placed in front of the open tire
when everyone is absent from the
living room? If there r smokers
in the family, are all ash trays
metal and are they placed w1ere
they will not be knocked over?
Do you use a metal waste paper
basket? Is the radio properly
grounded? Are lights placed so that
long extension cords r unneces'
sary? If used, are extension cords
protected from entanglements with
furniture and passing feet?
Next, a survey is made OF the
bedrooms which have fire hazards
resulting from careless Sc OF
smoking materials, electric heating
and curling irons. and other cleo
trio appliances. The use of stoves
or fireplaces in bedrooms has the
same hazards as mentioned in con-
nection with the kitchen and :iv.
ing room.
Prof. Weaver mentions base.
ments, storerooms, attics, closets,
and stairways as other sources Of
conflagration. Open lights, such as
kerosene lamps and candles,
should never be used in such places
he reminds.
Finally, the State college man
suggests a general discussion Of
fire hazard problems ;-ound the
family conference table, asking
such questions al these: Do the
members of your family have ha'
bits which Are conducive to good
fire control? Do they follow the
dangerous practice Of using kero'
sene or gasoline to start fires? Are
they careless about smoking con
ditions? Are the children allowed
to play with matches? And, i: the
electric iron Immediately discon'
pected when leaving the ironins