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Show Fire Chief Urges More Vigilance "Our country's fire loss last year amounted to $423,538,000," Fire Chief E. S. Laurence announced an-nounced today. "That figure is about twenty million dollars more than the loss for 1943 and our worst record since 1932," he I said. "This is a terrible record for any year," the chief declares, but it Is particularly bad when the war makes it so Important not to waste anything. Homes and buildings build-ings destroyed by fire just can't be rebuilt in these times. And if any war materials are destroyed, our boys overseas suffer for it just as much as if the enemy had destroyed those materials. The chief appealed to all the citizens of Logan city and Cache county to do . their part in improving im-proving the nation's fire record. "Most fires can be avoided," he said, "if only people will be careful. Be sure matches and cigarettes are completely dead before you throw them away. Matches and cigarettes start about a fourth of all the fires. If you have to use a liquid that can burn, either at home or where you work, handle it with the greatest care. If you can avoid using such liquids entirely, you'll be a lot safer. "And then there's just plain rubbish old papers, rags, old clothes, and other things that people keep for no good reason. They are all fire hazards. Give them to the salvage committee where they may be useful. "Finally, at home or on the job, use every piece of electrical or gas equipment with care so that you keep it in good condition. condi-tion. Gpod equipment won't start a fire unless it is abused in some way. "If you do just those few things, the chances are pretty good that you'll never start a fire, But just for good measure, be prepared, too. First, be sure you know how to turn in a fire alarm. If you have no telephone in your home, find out where the nearest one is. Second, keep your fire extinguisher handy so that you can use it promptly on any small fire that starts. In concluding, the chief urged housewives to make a special effort to make their homes safe from fire. "That's where most of the fires break out, and women and children are the worst sufferers." |