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Show Factors identified Fire incidents on increase A tf M . ment is the growing number of fires in the valley. Over a four to five year period, Bentley says that these fires have increased to approximately 33 percent of the department's runs each year. Fires in the county also account for more than 50 percent of the property losses and much of the department's manpower time. "The county fires usually have about an 80 percent loss. Since there isn't as dense a population there, fires are not usually discovered quite as quickly as in the city. Also for every mile which we travel to a fire we lose a minute's time or better in fighting the fire. The first five minutes after a fire is discovered are also the most critical," explained the chief. He further cautioned that valley residents be sure not to burn trash and leaves on the windy days typical of the spring season in southern Utah and that they always use a good fire break. He cautioned that open burning bur-ning in the city is illegal at any time. Bentley hopes to hire another full time man at the department in the future. The Utah Highway Patrol currently takes over part of the night hours for calls when the station is not manned and Bentley would like to see someone on call at the department 24 hours a day. "We've never missed a call yet, but it is important to have a man on duty to get the equipment started, take the address of a call and dispatch the alarm. The man on duty is responsible respon-sible . for getting the equipment on the ramp and to dispatch additional equipment to the scene of a fire as it is needed," .. explained the chief. asgfc. , mam mm i imni mm Cedar City Fire Chief David Bentley analyzes recent figures compiled byt the state concerning fires in Iron County and Cedar City. With 182 fires for the May 1979 to May 1980 year, the Cedar City Fire Department has experienced a 26.9 percent increase over last year. Fire runs the previous year totalled 126. "The increase in fires is due to several factors. The major one is the increased growth in the area-with more people there are more fires. Another reason for the increase in fires was the wet spring followed by a dry summer. Weed growth was increased in-creased and was a real hazard during the hot and windy days last summer," said Cedar City Fire Chief David Bentley. With 30 volunteers and three paid personnel including the chief, Fire Marshall Clint Neilson and Equipment Equip-ment Captain Neil Gentry, response time for the department is 45 seconds during the day and two minutes at night for the initial vehicle to respond to a blaze with five men on board. Losses for the year totalled $250,682 and Bentley said that the major portion of these were in a few fires. The Sportsman's Lounge suffered an estimated $80,000 in damages, a shed belonging to the Vandenberg's totalled $60,000, there were two trailer house losses at $24,000 and $18,000 in estimated losses and the Martin Skougaard home suffered an estimated $15,000 in damages. Bentley said that children playing with matches is the leading cause of fires in the city and county. Other causes with high percentages include 43.33 percent caused by "misuse of heat ignition" and 21.11 percent ' caused by "mechanical failure or ' malfunction." Figures also show that most of the city-county's fires oc-. oc-. curred during the late afternoon-early evening hours. According to the chief , the losses for the area are low. "These figures don't tell the whole picture because almost all of these losses could have been much greater without the department's quick action. It is hard to tell how many millions of dollars a year are saved because of our outstanding out-standing volunteers," commented the chief. The department also has some sophisticated equipment which helps to cut down on losses including an alarm system which automatically notifies volunteers of a fire call by telephone. The department also boasts four pumper trucks, one crash truck, two brush trucks, one snorkel high rise (a ladder truck), one four wheel drive pickup and a truck for the chief. One of the vehicles is equipped with foam and its own electric generating . unit for flood lights in night fires. One problem faced by the depart- |