ON SOME UNSUSPECTED CAUSES OF FIRE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1968, 15 June 1880, Page 3

ON SOME UNSUSPECTED CAUSES OF FIRE.

[From the “ Queen.”] There is a trite old saying that “ Fire is a good servant but a bad master.” It would seem that we had forgotten this, with other good old-“ashioned to judge by the so-called “accidents” constantly occurring. Again and again are dreadful fires reported—now destroying a country mansion full of unreplaceable valuables and happy associations, now wrecking some busy hive of industry with stocks in trade, frequently causing serious njury, if not death, to human beings. Now, as on the outbreak of a fire we naturally feel bound to render every assistance in our power, so we should be on our guard to prevent the beginning of the evil. This beginning, like many other small matters can be effectually checked, if not prevented, by judicious household supervision. The cause of fire would often not be far to seek were the “ ways ” of our households really well looked after Of course, where this cannot he done personally by the head of the establishment, the appointment of a substitute, as a steward or housekeeper, &0., answers the same purpose, if only the responsibility of one person bo duly recognised, and that one in turn called to account occasionally. I will now proceed to describe some of the “ ways ” or habits which, notwithstanding their apparent insignificance, are positively startling when their possible and probable results are duly considered. No. I—A common habit with some people, when ironing, is to rub the hot iron clean with a piece of stuff, paper, or “ anything ” at hand, and then throw the same aside without further thought. The small piece of stuff, usually more or less scorched, may lie smouldering for hours unsuspected in some corner, especially if shut up in a cupboard or drawer. Some such corner at the bottom of the house is generally destined for odds and ends of all sorts—such as matches, bits of paper, candle ends, &c., and furnishes too surely material for the conflagration which may later burst forth, often only when, “ master of the situation,” it arouses the confiding inmates of the house in hot haste from their slumbers in distant rooms. Even where all the family washing is, or is supposed to be, “put out,” the danger just alluded to may arise from such a simple process as the smoothing out of a ribbon. I recently discovered that the preliminary cleaning of a very hot iron had been performed on a cocoa fibre mat, for the indelible mark on it told its own tale. Of course this was an extreme case of heedlessness, for in these days of education few people are ignorant of the oily, and consequently inflammable nature of the whole coooanut. More frequently a piece of some stuff is used for the purpose, and then thrown aside in company with the ironing blanket (or whatever does duty for it), and which, too, is seldom unscathed, if not actually burnt. For, though proper iron stands may be provided, they are sometimes not need, and the hot iron simply set down on the blanket. The danger here alluded to applies equally to the careless throwing asido of anything likely to smoulder, such as clothes caught up at random for holding hot baking tins, kitchener handles, Ac.

No. 2. At bedtime deserted kitchens too often present the following scene: —The fire is still burning brightly, or, at least, is only reduced to a mass of glowing coals, sticks (which should have been dried by day) lie scattered on and near the grate, and a “ topheavy ” load of clothes hangs close in front of it! Little imagination is needed to picture the probable effect of any disturbing cause on the state of things here described, whether it arises from gusts of wind, falls of soot, cats, &c. 3. How often at dead of night is some inmate of a household reading in bed by a light, notwithstanding that the danger of the practice is generally acknowledged ? To mention a fact within my own knowledge in connection with it: a lady who inhabited an isolated country house sometimes took the precaution of going round it at night, and on one occasion, when so doing, was horrified at seeing a bright gleam of light below the door of a servant’s bedroom. On arousing her (for the girl was sound asleep) it proved to be coming from the flaring-np of her candle left burning at the bedside, in company with a story-book. No. 4. To an observer of such matters how needless appears the throwing about of used matches, fusees, &0., which now so constantly goes on amongst us, indoors and out. Formerly children were trained to consider the consequences of their actions more than now ; e.ff., in the country not to throw paper into the fire, not merely lest they should get burned themselves, but lest the wind should carry it alight on to a bam or stack, &c. Need it be urged that the areas and back yards of our towns deserve no less caution ?

Having thus enlarged on some of the unsuspected causes of accidents by fire, it remains to point out some of the remedies in our hands, viz. :—l. To provide (a) holders for irons, kettles, baking tins, kitchener handles, &o. (those should always be hung up on nails where they can be seen) : (S) iron rubbers, stands, and blankets (these should be locked up with other stores, so that it is known when they are used) ; (c) receptacles for used matches, waste paper, candle-ends, &c. (these should bo inspected on shutting up the house at night). 2. To occasionally inspect the above items, and all cloths of the rubber kind, calling over the inventory. 3. To allow no lights to be carried about the house except short ones in lanterns, protected by wire or other guard. It would hardly be credited by those unacquainted with the subject how much home comfort and safety depend on attention to these details, nor the reward it brings ; for not slight is the economy of labour effected in the mending, and of expense in the renewing of sets of house-cloths in households where the motto is acted on that there should be “ a place for everything, and everything in its place.”