Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-01-29
Lane Launches
Program toCut
State FireLoss
Annual Destruction
Of 81, 000, 900 Cited
At Conference


gram was officially under way in
Maryland today in an effort to re-
duce the States estimated $1,000, 900
fire loss during the past year.
The program, which calls for Cos
ordination Of agencies and commune
tiles throughout the State, was
launched yesterday by Gov. Lana
during an all-day fire safety con-
ference at the University of Mary
land.
The conference, the result of re-
quest by President Truman urging q
Nationwide fire prevention can.-
paign, was attended by more than
100 f1remen, educators, insurance
agents. school and police officials,
and representatives Of newspapers
and radio stations.
Calling for their support yester-
day, Gov. Lane declared: 1.-THE best
way to fight fire Is to keep it from
getting started"
Huge Losses Cited.
ut is an appalling thing. when
you stop to consider II" he asserted.
that every year in Maryland there
goes up In smoke and flames prop
erty to the value Of as much as
So, LOOT, 900 or $1,000, 00O."
Loss Of life Is even more serious
than the monetary consideration"
Gov. Lane added. In the past 90
days, he explained, IA persons.
mostly children, lost their lives in
fires throughout the State. AL but
three of the fires in which they died
occurred in homes, he said.
Gov. Lane said the $1,000, 900, lost
in fires last year Is virtually double
the States revenue from the tax
on real estate, from the proceeds
Of which the State finances its total
bonded indebtedness-the interest
and retirement Of bonds"
Would Pay for Bridge.
In little more than four years,
the same money would pay for the
proposed bridge across the Chesa-
peake Bay, or 1t would build Q
mighty long stretch Of dual high
way" he noted.
Asserting the monetary loss gives
q means Of assessing its effect on
the economy of the State through
comparison" Gov. Lane said the
$1,000 900 figure is about one-tenth
of the funds authorized for schools
building facilities and adequate SAL
aries for teachers. The same amount
also would take care Of the I'M
crease in the States appropriations
for raising the standards of mental
health institutions in Maryland.
he said.
ut Is my hope that as the result
of this conference, and with your
assistance, a program can be de-
yeloped which will be adaptable to
all the sections of the State, and
which will meet with the support
Of all communities of Maryland"
the Governor said.
ESg Headquarters Suggesteds
E The Governor said headquarters
flor the fire prevention program
might we'll be located" at the Uni
versity of Maryland"
The national fire loss picture was
described by DR.. T. Alfred Flem-
ing, supervisor of the conservation
department of the National Board
of Fire Underwriters.
A staggering" 100000, 900, ex-
elusive of forest fire damage. was
lost last year as result of fires, he
reported. In addition, more than
81 ,O00, 900 acres of forest land
throughout the country-greater
than the total area of New York
State-were destroyed by fire in
1947, he said.
Another speaker, Claude A. Han
ley, State insurance commissioner
and general chairman of six-man
Maryland Fire Safety Committee
appointed by Gov. Lane to direct
the program, said the committee
proposes to make fire prevention
week throughout the entire year"
StalIings Pledges Support.
Charles r. Stallings, president OF
the Maryland State Firemen's As
ISOLATION, pledged support of all fire.
men of the State, and added, "Fire
prevention is everybodys business"
The idea that ut won't happen to
me" Is "all wrong" he stated.
Under the program, he said, vol
unteer firemen throughout the State
will be asked to "spearhead" the
campaign in their own communities.
Regional conferences similar to the
one held yesterday will be held in
various sections Of the State in the
peor future he anpailnced