The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-06

versary of Its founding in 1866 by capital stock fire insurance com. panies, the National Board of Fire Underwriters today called upon more than 10000 leading men and groups in 48 states to unite in a vigorous program between now and May 28tf, to create a stronger na- tional defense through a more efl. cient fire defense.
 Contacts with these men and groups have just been established, said W. E. Mallalieu, director of an- niversary activities for the National Board of Fire Underwriters, and an active center at 85 John street will answer all requests for information on fire prevention and fire control from persons and groups cooperat. ing in this vital national defense program.
 Patriotic Duty
 Tt Is the patriotic duty of every American citizen" declared MT. Mallalieu, ito assist in the govern. ment's defense program by eiimin. ating ell possible delay il, prepared. ness that might result from fire"
 Tn normal times" Mr.. Malial!eu continued, fire extracts a terrific toll In industry and in the home. Every day, on the average, fire causes million dollar loss in prop erty throughout America. And now, when every factory in the nation is vitally needed in our defense pro. gram, we can i'll afford to suffer even a dollars loss of property or time In industry or home"
 We are training our man power In military tactics and badly need. cd skilled trades just as quickly as the facilities for such are provided" MT. Mallalieu said, "and every man Is urgently needed. Yet, each year fires throughout America cost thou. sands of lives"
 The vast majority of these fire losses could have been prevented or greatly minimized through intelli. gent fire preventive methods, ac. cording to the National Board of Fire Underwriters.
 Stressing the past contributions of capital stock fire insurance com. panies to the United States Govern. ment in times of crises, MT. Malla. lieu recalled that during the last World War the National Board of Fire Underwriters provided the gov. er1,ment with staff of fire pre-. vention experts, including engineers, trained Investigators and consult ants.
 With this service from the Na- tional Board of Fire Underwriters, naval authorities altered and pro- tected property worth hundreds of millions of dollars. No serious fire losses occurred. Army authorities, utilizing similar advice, planned for safety, built and used wooden cities housing two and one.ha!f million men with an average per capita fire loss of only one.fifth that of civil. ian cities.
 The wheels of vital industry, the storage and transportation of grain and other necessities were likewise protected through the services of the National Board of Fire Underwrit. CTS.
 A0vaSOry Bureau
 When the present European war was declared in September, 1889, MT. Mallalieu revealed, two hundred capital stock fire insurance com. panies immediately renewed their | offer of services and advice oo the American government for the dura. ton of the crisis.
 In October l940. the government | accepted this offer and the National Board of Fire Underwriters irnme. diately assigned personnel and es- tablished two Advisory Bureaus on Fire Protection in Washington. | These two bureaus are now integral parts of the War Department and | the Navy Department respectively. |
 "The engineering experts in these | bureaus are working directly with the American government" MT. Mall lalieu said, "and we are only too glad l to supply more. when needed. Yet. their work in Washington is being daily complemented by scores of | other fire prevention experts of the l National Board and associated in- surance organizations who are pro- | tecting not only government pro- | jects but industry and other vital | defense supply lines throughout the | country from the loss of time and | property through fire"
 In the National Board of Fire Un. | derwriters' current appeal for CO., operation to safeguard national de- | fense with more efficient fire de- | fense. persons and groups contacted | have been asked to serve in spe- l cific ways in which they can best | aid in this vital national service.
 Industrial engineers charged with | the safety of their plants will. on | request. be supplied by the National | Board of Fire Underwriters with | suggestions pertinent to their indi. | vjdual problems of fire protection. | Leaders in education who have sig. | nified their willingness to cooper. | ate will be advised how to arrange | and conduct fire prevention parades | and pageants.
 Men in public life nave been asked to educate their conFnuni. l ties to the need for . concepirated local defense agaliist fire. The heads | Of eli fire departments in the United States VII carry on the program ia \ their cities and towns.