| Show Fire the the Nations Nation's Biggest Killer KillerBy By George Gibbons Fire the nations nation's biggest killer next to automobiles automobiles au- au 1 still runs ramI rampant rampant ram ram- I pant through unprotected homes and businesses Yet even after the largest I fires in the past century v i the American people still refuse to protect themselves themselves themselves them them- selves against the raging U United ni ted Y killer Even the States Government has launched a campaign in an attempt to warn the public public public pub pub- lic but there is very little hope for success in stopping stopping stopping stop stop- ping the already practiced myths among the American Ameri Ameri- can people today Every year thousands upon thousands die in related automobile-related accidents accidents accidents acci acci- dents and that number is seconded by the number of people who die from fire during the same time For example during the time period of 1972 1961 Americans died in inthe inthe inthe the Vietnam War At the same time people died from fire right here in inthe inthe inthe the United States and of all those who died in the US U.S. over 90 percent would have been saved if they used a smoke or heat detector Over the past century there have been a great many fires some of them include The Lincoln School Disaster in Lincoln Lincoln Lincoln Lin Lin- coln Texas Two hundred two ninety-two people died from a gas leak that lead to the explosion Another of the more famous fires has hasto hasto hasto to be the Coconut Grove fire claiming lives The cause of this fire no noone noone noone one really knows but if fire detection equipment had been installed not nearly so many lives would have been spent Over the past several years the US U.S. Government Government Government Govern Govern- ment has compiled many facts that support everything everything everything every every- thing the nations nation's fire departments departments departments de de- have been telling telling telling tell tell- ing us for years For example during the next hour more than fires per day will rage in inthis inthis inthis this nation and of the nearly one million building building building build build- ing fires that in 1971 almost seven out of often often often ten in residential occupancy To help combat these alarming figures fire departments have launched a campaign called Learn not to Burn and have published materials such as America Burning all put towards the effort of informing the public Unfortunately Americans Americans Americans Ameri Ameri- cans still live in a cloud made of myths deadly ones at that Such as the theone theone theone one that Ill wake up when I smell smoke or orMy orMy My dog will wake me up Besides my house is made of bricks and cement and everybody knows that they dont don't burn Will we ever wake up to reali reality ty Over 90 percent of all the victims who die in fires never get burned They die from smoke and poisonous gasses which are in fact products of furniture furniture fur fur- and telephones and andall andall andall all household items which make that house a home for you and your family How long will it take for forthe forthe forthe the American people to protect themselves Nobody Nobody Nobody No No- body knows but if these reports are true the chances are that the average average average aver aver- age American family will have at least one fire every generation that will be serious enough to have the fire department respond Besides this information I Ican Ican Ican can only tell you to let your conscience be your guide whether to spend a few dollars and protect your families' families chances or to go goon goon goon on gambling The decision is up to you |
