The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-10-06
COAST GUARD IS
 TO OBSERVE FIRE
 PREVENTION WEEK

mated as official Fire Prevention Week throughout the nation as a reminder to the people of the i'm portance of fire prevention, especi- ally in time of war }
 The U. s. Coast Guard is re- sponsible for the tremendous task of guarding waterfront facilities of the United States and the import ant facilities of the Territory as well. Their vigilance is against fire, sabotage and other problems by means of harbor patrols and vessel and dock inspection.
 Fire Fighting Taught
 The largest fleet of fire boats in the world is operated by the Coast Guard, having more than 260 boats available 24 hours day. A special school is maintained at Fort Me Henry, Maryland, which embraces fire fighting and numerous related subjects. Here, men are taught to put out the various types of fires, including oil, and are required to extinguish each type of fire with the latest in equipment. They are further trained in the handling of explosives for prevention of fires.
 Fire Hazards
 A major part of the Coast Guards job in fire prevention is in education of the public in fire hazards. One such hazard in this locality is the possible spillage of inflammable liquids on navigable waters in the vicinity of vessels, piers and docks, Some of the in- cidentS are attributable to mech anical failures, others to deteriora- tion of vessels. Typical instances involve leakage at rivets, leakage through corroded piping, failure to tighten connections, bursting of cargo hose, failure to check valves which were intended to be closed wrong manipulations of valves and overflowing of tanks. In these cases no immediate fire resulted but the possibilities of future fire hazard remains since these inflammable substances coat the under struc- lures of piers and wharves and would intensity any blaze originat- ing in these properties.
 Prevention And Control These instances are typical ot accidents which the Coast Guard Marine Inspection Division is doing its best to foresee and prevent Theirs is the job of inspecting vessels and their equipment fol the protecting of lives and property as well as holding boards of in vestigation to prevent occurrences of tragedy.
 The Coast Guard Captains of the Port carry on fire prevention work about the piers and wharves Theifs is the job of prevention and con- trol. One incident resulted in is commendatory letter from an Army Commanding Officer, because oi quick action by Coast Guardsmer last September g. His letter ot recommendation in part:
 T noticed particularly that, dur. ing the progress of the fire, they assisted materially in controlling and extinguishing it, with com. plete disregard for their own per. sonal safety and through the flint efforts of your men, the blaze wa: quickly extinguished, which re. suited in considerable saving o1 property for the Government.
 Cooperation Of Citizens
 It is through the cooperation ol the citizens in an area that fires can be prevented. This cooperation has been excellent in this District for the protection of lives ane property. The good results have not been accomplished by the Coast Guard alone, nor can they be SC accomplished They require the close cooperation of all interested parties, which has been forthcom- ing without stint.
 Throughout the nation the Coast Guards record has been excellent More than 18 per cent of all water front fires and vessel fires were first detected by Coast Guard per- sonnel; Coast Guardsmen ane apparatus have responded to 7t per cent of all waterfront alarms throughout the country, and theil units have extinguished or assisted materially the municipal forces il extinguishing 31 per cent of al | waterfront fires.