Rules for such drills are prepared by this Department.

Do not interfere where fire drills are regularly observed. Order them only where they are not practiced, but not oftener than judicious, and not to cause needless interference and

annoyance.

Notify owners and lessees of boilers to file certificates of inspection, and notify this Department of the location of all boilers generating over ten pounds of steam.

File no violations against premises, except as provided by law and be specific in your details.

Investigate every fire or explosion and determine whether it was the result of carelessness or design.

Begin such investigation immediately.

If of suspicious origin or caused by negligence or design, notify the State Fire Marshal at once.

Report every explosion due to carelessness or design in writing immediately, and every fire within fifteen days.

Report to this Department the name and address of every person or firm storing, selling or handling explosives under sec

tion 358.

If you believe a formal investigation necessary as to a suspicious or incendiary fire, notify the State Fire Marshal immediately.

If you think a fire incendiary, give fully your reason and the facts on the back of report card.

Incendiary fire investigations should be quietly conducted, giving nothing out prematurely, so as not to defeat the ends of justice. Preserve any physical evidences of arson.

Report on the last of every month, false and unnecessary alarms of the preceding month, omitting details.

Fill out carefully the blanks in the forms sent to you and, especially in fire reports, give your personal estimate of damage to structure and contents and, if possible, the amount of insurance paid.

Write your reports legibly, concisely and yet full enough.

Have a photograph taken of dilapidated or dangerous premises or conditions, or of arson evidence, transmit it with your

report, endorsing it with location of view and name of owner

or agent.

Moving-picture booths and apparatus must comply with chapter 756 of the Laws of 1911.

Inadequate, merely general and inexact reports are of no service. "Carelessness" should also disclose by whom and in what regard.

“Adjoining fire" refers to one started from the heat or sparks of a nearby burning building and should be recorded on the card under "extended damages."

"Extended damages covers damage done through the spread of fire to adjacent property and should be noted.

"Ashes against wood" covers fires started by putting hot ashes or coals into boxes or barrels against siding or fences. If a coal is dropped through a crack in a stove, it should be charged to "defective stove."

Burning rubbish" indicates sparks from a indicates sparks from a pile of rubbish burned to get rid of it.

"Rubbish burning" means that a spark or blaze, by accident, lighted rubbish accumulated from neglect.

"Chimney soot burning" refers to fires from a dirty chimney burning out.

"Defective flue" is a common cause. The word flue indicates the whole avenue of escape from the fire to the outer air. It is the stovepipe and chimney taken together.

"Overheated stove" is not sufficient. State whether floor, siding or other material was ignited.

Failure to properly install and care for heaters is a fruitful source of fire.

"Spark

is insufficient. State whether from an engine and what kind locomotive, stationary or traction.

Lightning" should also show whether there was a lightning rod, how long up, in good repair, how grounded, were two ends in the ground.

Unless a report is properly made out you cannot be paid. Time consumed in investigating fires must be accurately stated. Payments will only be made for services actually rendered. False-alarm reports are not paid for.

Expense accounts must be made out conscientiously and in detail, giving the date, name and location of fire and number of miles traveled.

Under chapter 329 of the Laws of 1912, smoking in factories is prohibited. Appropriate cards will be distributed. Notify this Department of the number of cards you require, allowing for two on each floor.

Notify the State Fire Marshal of any changes in fire chiefs, town clerks or other assistants.

The State Fire Marshal must largely depend upon his assistants and inspectors. Their work forms the foundation of the operations of this Department. He acknowledges your valuable help in the past and appeals to you most earnestly to do all in your power to aid him to enforce the law, protect life and save property.

THOMAS J. AHEARN,

State Fire Marshal.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

ALBANY, N. Y., December 14, 1913.

A FEW TIMELY HINTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF FIRES DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

The custom of merchants decorating places of business for the holiday trade is a most hazardous one from the standpoint of fire. The decorating of churches and schoolhouses for Christmas trees and other means of entertainment is also dangerous. The promiscuous use of fireworks, is at all times a menace to life and property. Statistics show that more fires occur in the month of December than any of the other winter months and principally from hazards known as electric wiring, parlor matches, cigars and cigarettes, and unusual inflammable conditions existing by reason of promiscuous use of decorations for Christmas purposes. Many children are burned to death annually by reason of these decorations from Christmas candles.

Do not decorate your Christmas tree with paper, cotton or any other inflammable material. Use metallic tinsel and other noninflammable decorations only, and set the Christmas tree securely so the children in reaching for things cannot upset the same.

Do not use cotton to represent snow. Use instead asbestos fibre. Watch cigar, cigarette and pipe smokers. Do not permit them to "light up" inside entertainment places.

Do not make the slightest change in electric wiring without consulting electrical inspectors.

Do not permit children to light or relight candles while adults are not present. They frequently set fire to their clothing, and the tree itself will burn when the needles become dry. Candles are meant to be lighted and the children, if they can get matches, will experiment with them.

A house of merriment is better than a house of mourning. Every city and town in the State that has not enacted an ordinance prohibiting the use of fire-works should do so at once.

READ YOUR INSURANCE POLICIES. Before attempting any hasty or ill-advised decoration which may cause fire examine your insurance contracts and see if the policies contain anything like this:

66

This entire policy, unless otherwise provided, by agreement indorsed hereon or added thereto, shall be void, etc. If the hazard be increased by any means within the control or knowledge of the insured."

If you burn you want your indemnity. Do nothing, therefore, to impair your contract.

These suggestions are given to the public for the purpose of arousing to a point of alertness that will prevent as far as possible. a repetition of fire losses that have heretofore marked Christmas celebrations. It is the desire of this Department that every person shall have a right Merry Christmas without the danger of holiday fires in stores, churches and bazaars, which, while filled with people. are usually holocausts.

THOMAS J. AHEARN,

State Fire Marshal.