B.C. LUMBER WORKER

Be
2nd Issue, September = +
et

“Don’t Give Fire .. .|

Union Supports

Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 7-138, was given the whole-
hearted support of the IWA when the Safety Director John
T. Atkinson presented as his guest on the Green Gold radio
program recently the Provincial Fire Marshall, Basil
Nixon. Fire prevention was then shown to be an essential
part of the industry’s safety program.

Among the facts referred to
by the Fire Marshall were the
following disclosures regarding
the ravages of fire in Canada and
the United States, Many sugges-
tions were made indicating how
fire hazards might be eliminated.

As stated by him, Governor-
General Vincent Massey, by proc-
lamation, has designated October
7-13 as Fire Prevention Week. It
is, as His Excellency points out,
an imperative reminder of the in-

There is a saying common among firemen
that the only fireproof house is under the sea.

creasing need for the control of
fire and its hazards.

In the last ten years, the proc-
lamation states, fires in Canada
have taken a toll of 4,856 lives
and have seriously injured 16,000
persons. The financial loss of
623,223 fires in the decade has
been $80,000,000.

Shocking Record

No less shocking is the picture
of Canada’s fire loss position in
relation to other civilized nations.
The latest available comparative
international record of per capita
fire losses, according to the office
of the Dominion Fire Commis-
sioner:

1. Canada
2, U.S.A,
3. Norway:
4, Denmark
5, Switzerland
6. U.K.
7. France
8. West Germany

9. Ireland 83
10. Austria -70
11. Netherlan 69
12, Puerto Rico 48
13. Italy .... 32

This was the unenviable record
published in 1952 by a UN com-
mittee. Unfortunately, as the
Joint Fire Prevention Committee
of the Association of Canadian
Fire Marshals and the Canadian
Association of Fire Chiefs points
out, Canada’s record is worsening.

Figures for 1954 show our per
capita loss to be $6.01.

Joint Committee Formed

Alarmed by the situation, the
two great associations of the na-
tion’s firefighters (representing
the provincial and municipal fire
services) last year joined hands
to establish the joint committee.
Its members serve voluntarily
and its simple purpose is to ren-
der public service by assisting in
bringing to the attention of citi-
zens the story of fire prevention
and control, particularly during
Fire Prevention Week.

Because most fires—and most
deaths—are the result of human
carelessness, public education is
deemed the most effective way of
combatting the menace, especially
in the home, where most deaths
tragically involve women ‘and
children — lives that might have

been spared had the simplest
rules of safety been followed.

Bringing the story. directly to
the public is the great army of
Canada’s 25,000 firefighters —
professional and volunteer — the
men who, night and day, must
stand ready to face the tragedy
of fire.

WHAT MAKES A FIRE

IN THE

Fires require fuel, air and heat to burn.
If any one of these requirements is removed

the fire will go out.

FUEL

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In the main, the hazards are
carelessness and thoughtlessness.
Who, for instance, striking a
match, stops to think that it may
destroy a whole community? Or
who, inserting a 30-ampere ‘fuse
into an over-worked electrical
circuit, considers that a famly
may be wiped out? ... Of such
can be the terrible price of some-
body’s carelessness.

Public. Education

That the battle of public edu-
cation can, surely if slowly, pre-
vail is the belief of the firefight-

+P

ers and the many’ organizations

OTTO KWOWE:

The banner they bear reads:
DON’T GIVE FIRE A PLACE
TO START.

And, giving utterance to the
helpless children and women,
and all who innocently suffer:
DON’T LEAVE US ALONE |.
WITH THE HAZARDS OF
FIRE.

HOME

HEAT FIRE

= jh

and services which contribute un- | |
stintingly to the cause — this
newspaper among them,

Fire Prevention Stamp

Traditionally, Fire Prevention
Week is the full calendar week
including October 9, anniversary
of the Great Chicago Fire of
1871. It is observed at the same
time in Canada and the United
States. This year, further in
commemoration of its observance,
the Canadian Post Office Depart-
ment will, during the week (Octo-
ber 9), issue its first special Fire
Prevention Stamp.

=

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Most Fires can be
FIRST THRE!

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Obey... «

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Dont... .;

Tamper with a

Keep.

Gasoline in %

Practice... |
Good Housekee

TOMORROW MA

British-<

Workmen's Com,

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