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Show Fire Losses Fire losses in the United States last year rose to a record high of $1,101,824,000, an increase of 5.8 over 1959. Fires last year took the live of 11,350 persons. The tragic thing about these fires is that thousands of them could have been avoided. They never should have happened. hap-pened. It is a reminder of this fact that the nation has been observing Fire Prevention Week. Nearly one-fourth of all fires in this country are caused caus-ed by matches and smoking, according to the National Board of Fire Underwriters; another 20 are the result of misuse of electrical equipment. Because matches-smoking account for such a large percentage of all fires of known origin, their real and potential danger cannot be emphasized enough. In the home, the smouldering cigarette, cigar-ette, dumped into a waste basket, or dropped onto a bed while you doze, can easily set the fire that will destroy your home, possibly take your life. By keeping matches away from children we can prevent them from starting fires and by making sure that all of our electrical appliances appli-ances are in good repair, we can reduce the possibility of Tire still further. The fact is YOU could be one of the fire victims! Today, fire is due to strike 800 American homes. Hundreds Hun-dreds will be badly damaged, many totally destroyed. An untold number of persons will die, suffer painful burns or be maimed for life. Most fires in the home are caused by carelessness and it is to the interest of all to rededicate ourselves to be careful with fire at this time. |