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The Huron Expositor, 1963-10-03, Page 9PAR CNPATE FOR. YOUR PR07'E4TIQN OCTOBER 6th to 12th Children suffer most by fires in Canada. Of the 5,580 victims of smoke and flames in the last ten. years, 2,320 were youngsters. In 1962, their toll was the highest ever -266. And more than half of them were wiped out in just 43 home fires that took three or more of the family with them. Women (1,167) suffered least in the record of fire carelessness, com- pared with 2,093 men. Over a billion dollars of property was destroyed in the decade, mak- ing the rate of Canada's fire losses one of the worst of any country in the world. One bright spot: in 1962 the estimated per capita loss dropped to its lowest figure in five years. Nevertheless, last year recorded a sharp increase in major industrial fires, 16 v. seven in 1961. A major loss fire is one of a quarter of a million dollars and up. Six times last year, a mil- lion dollars went up in smoke in single fires. Fire summary of recent years (excluding forest and federal govern- ment property losses) : 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 • Number of fires 84,898 83,706 79,611 84,241 86,919 • Killed 620 556 566 560 532 • Loss ($ millions) 126.1 128.3 129.3 124.6 120.3 • Per Capita $6.72 $7.03 $7.26 $7.06 $7.05 Keep Those Fire Doors Closed A door is an easily compre- hended fire prevention illustra- tion. Open your door in wel- come if the community fire- fighter calls to suggest inspec- tion of fire hazards in your place. But close your door to fire. A closed door is a barrier against the quick spread of flames and gases. The chemis- try of fire: Heat plus fuel plus air (oxygen) equals fire. Re- duce air, and fire is checked. This is why you see a warning on heavy doors in public build- ings: Fire Door -Keep Closed. And it adds sense to the fire- fighter's suggestion that if you can possibly do so, keep your bedroom' door closed (with al- lowance, of course, for a moth- er who must be alert to the night sounds of young children. If you ever smell smoke and the door is hot 'to touch, think twice before opening. The fresh air you give a fire may produce an engulfing inferno. Your predicament may involve a dreadful choice of action but, unhappily, such is the chemis- try of fire. DO YOUR.. PART! Don't Overload Your Wiring System! . defective electric wiring . . ." How many times have you noticed the above reported as the cause of serious fires? Have you ever giv- en any thought as to safety of your own wiring - in your home, your office, or your factory? ELECTRICITY ' IS SAFE AND RELIABLE ! When Proper Observance is Given to These Simple Rules: 1. See that all wiring extensions are carried out by qualified and experienced wiring contractors, This insures final check-up by the Wiring In- spector of the Hydro -Electric Power Commission of Ontario. 2. Never use fuses larger than 15 amperes on branch circuits in your house. 3. Don't "plug" fuses by inserting coins behind them, The fuse serves similarly to the safety valve of a boiler. 4. Make frequent inspection of flexible cords. 5. Don't hang any electric wireon nails. Don't tack extension cords to baseoards or walls. 6. Keep electrical heating devices away from combustibles. 7. Keep lamps away from clothing, papers, etc. 8. Never use iron, toaster or lamps as bed warmers. 9. Install convenience outlets to avoid excessive lengths of extension cords. 10. NEVER USE GASOLINE IN YOUR ELECTRIC WASHER! Preventing Costly Grass Fires Means More Care Grass fire losses in Canada "ain't hay", if you will kindly pardon the expression. Thirty thousand dollars last year was the out-of-pocket cost of fighting grass fires in but one of hundreds of rural dis- tricts across the country. At this rate, the direct na- tional financial burden on the taxpayers may well run into boxcar figures. From a Match To a Nightmare For the community, citizen and volunteer firefighter alike, a grass fire can be a nightmare. From a . single match or cig- arette carelessly tossed by a passing motorist, or a thought- lessly -left picnic fire, may come a terrifying wall of flame to waste crops, buildings and pre- cious parklands.. Numerous, too, are the cas- es of people collapsing from heart strain in their frantic efforts to beat down the creep- ing flames with broom, shovel and wet sacking as they see their homes threatened. The trouble with a grass fire is that no sooner does it ap- pear to be licked than it can start up again, fanned by wind from another quarter. Violation of These Rules, Resulting in Fire, May Invalidate Your Fite Insurance Policjt. We welcome this oppor- tunity of co-operating in the observance of Fire Prevention Week Bulldozers, Not Shovels And if it gets into bog, bull- dozers, not hand shovels, may be needed. If you've never experienced the terror of a grass fire out of control, you're lucky. And if you're never the cause of starting one, the community will be lucky too. Remember -grass fire losses "ain't hay" either in dollars or in public distress! PatientsCrowd Huronview Patient capacity at Huron - view is "practically reached," county council was told by Reeve Cliff, Dunbar of Grey, chairman of the Huronview Board. , "We have in the basement," he said, "accommodation for about 28. The problem now is, who to put down there, if ap- proved by the department." Superintendent Harvey John- ston stated that at one time in September the number of resi- dents was up to 200. Present total is 120 females and 78 males. There haSe been 52 ad- missions since the first of the year, 29 deaths and eight dis- charges, two of the latter to the Ontario Hospital. "There have been fewer deaths than in previous years," Mr. Johnston said. "Perhaps it is the type of people, but in June, July and August we had only one death each month. "The basement quarters were originally built for staff use. Last Thursday the board pass- ed 10 for admission, and we have two beds for females and a few for males. We have to do something about the accom- modation. The board has not decided yet if we are going to use these rooms. They can be used for normal care or bed care. If completely filled, they will make our capacity about 240 beds, and the department eels that is enough for any Man to have charge of." TIMELY TIPS Purchase 2/3 to 3/4 of a pound of chicken per serving, say Home Economists at Mac- donald Institute, Guelph. Re- member too, that some persons like two servings of meat at a h e'iif. A loose "eh" of tail over the top of a roasting bird will keep it frolt} burning. Food ex- perts at Macdo$alil institute, Guelph, recommend foil rather than a tight -fitting lid on the pan. FIRE SAFETY ,' C��I�� True False 1. It is safe to smoke in bed, if you have an emit, ing book to read. ' 2. Frayed electric cords are safe, provided they are well taped, 3. Gasoline can .be safely stored in the basement, if well contained. 4. If the emergency period does not exceed a day, it is all right to put a coin in a fuse box. 5. Nedspapers can be safely stored in a damp basement, if they are not more than a year old. 6. If there are not more than five appliances, it is safe to put them all on one circuit. 7. If there's water handy, don't worry about be - able to put out a grease fire in a skillet. 8. If the stove pilot light is more than 10 feet away, it is safe to use gasoline as a cleaner. 9. If electric cords are put under rugs not get- ting great wear, they present no hazard. 10. If the wind is blowing away from you, there is no chance of certain insect sprays exploding from your lighted cigarette. 11. Stove ashes can be safely put in a wooden box, if it is sturdy enough. 12. Kerosene can be safely used to quicken a fire, if it is slowly poured from a good container. 13. Provided that you don't touch clothing, a light- ed match or candle can be safely used when looking for something in a closet. If your answers are all "false", you have done your home- work. If any of your answers are "true", please study Common Sense Fire Prevention Rules. County Council •members!AP riving for the: September #es- sion found afranged at the rear of .the chamber a half 4ozetl dif- ferent types of surface and un- derground shelters ronerete,, metal or sandbag.-.-such.as re- commended by,, elle provincial emergency measures. authorities. These were not subject of dis- cussion in detail. lit was e0 plained that the new county co- ordinator, W. Stuart Forbes, who addressed council briefly, would have a detailed report for the November session. "The co-ordinator is moving along nicely," reported Reeve Milton Oesch, of Zurich, chair- man of the committee, "and do- ing a good job in the cireum- stances. This is still more or less a controversial subject, but the people 'of Huron are gra- dually recognizing that this is something we cannot throw away." "I am very happy with the attitude of the executive com- mittee," Mr. Forbes told coun- 'cal, "and the people to whom f have Spoken in the past two . months, We found the organ, nation ,udder Mr. MacDonald was very sood, but the imple- mnentatioi rather. poor,, for Yarn bus reasons. We have . Pro, gressed'to the point where we have, appointed' most of 'the.- heads of committees. "Our budget • is very small, and makes the work that. much more difficult, and it will take that much longer to do, How- ever, we will do the best We can. "Theshelter is a controver- sial subject --strictly a personal need, if you feel you should have it; if not, nobody .can make yogi put it in. 0 However, this EMO has been kicked aliolit a lot, and we neer} your partici- pation, and if you can help us in any way we will be glad." Every week more people dis- cover what mighty jobs are accomplished by low cost Ex • positor Want Ads. Does Sparky Live in OurTown? Of course you know the famous SPARKY by now! You know he is the symbol of .fire pre- vention and, most likely, you already know some or all of his rules. But does the spirit of this nationally famous symbol really live in our town? Does each of us know as much as we should about protecting our homes and families from fire? Do we cooperate with our Fire Depart- ment in its fire prevention programs? Are our children being fully educated to both the uses and the dangers of fire? Scientific advances on so many fronts today stagger our powers of belief. Yet in some ways we are not keeping pace. We have to be urged to vote. We have to be urged to visit our doctor and dentist. We have to be urged to drive safely. And, yes, we even have to be urged to learn how to be careful of one of our oldest tools -fire. Some good rules to remember are: Don't smoke in bed -Keep matches away from young children -Don't overload your wiring system -Check electric cords for fraying -Clean out junk from your attic and basement -Be careful with lighted cigarettes -Learn to use your oil stove correctly -Watch out for sparking chimneys -Don't use flammable cleaning fluids -Don't use ordinary extension cords on heaters or irons! Most of all, remember what Sparky says - DON'T GM FIRE A PLACE TO START! IF FIRE SHOULD STRIKE 1. When fire is discovered, even though it appears to be small, don't delay, but call the Seaforth telephone operator im- mediately and ask for 100. 2. Don't panic! Speak slowly and distinct- ly, giving your name and location. If a rural fire, give Name, Township, Lot and C+lticession, location of fire and best totite from Seaforth. 3. Do not leave the telephone until you THIS IS WHAT TO DO: have given all the necessary informa- tion. 4. If a rural fire, alert your neighbors and at the. same time request them to bring water in any container available at the time. If possible, stress upon the neces- sity of keeping roads clear for passage of fire truck. 5. Remember that when the fire truck arrives at the scene of the fire, the Fire Chief is in full command. JOHN F. SCOTT, Fire Chief, Town of Seaforth KEEP MATCHES�AWAY FROM YOUNG CHILDREN. • DON'T GIVE FIRE A PLACE TO STARTI SEAFORTH PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION