Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 199, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1918 — Fire Losses in North America. [ARTICLE]

Fire Losses in North America.

As has often been pointed out, the fire waste in the United States and Canada is extravagant But Canada now proposes to reduce the damage by the adoption of compulsory fire prevention measures in accordance with the recommendations of the commission of conservation, say* Providence Journal. Excluding forest fires, the commission finds that since confederation the loss has been $700,000,000, while every year 200 lives are sacrificed in fires, and 500 persons are seriously injured. Canada’s per capita fire loss is the largest in the world —$2.73 — and that of the United States—s2s6 —is second. England’s figures are small—64 cents—but large in comparison with the 13 cents reported in Switzerland. France has a per capita loss of 74 cents. Conditions in these several countries do not seem to justify such an extraordinary difference in the fire records. Probably the explanation of the poor showing on this side of the ocean lies in the better enforcement of safety regulations in Europe, and in holding property owners accountable for the damages caused by fires starting on their premises. The remedy proposed in Canada Is in putting more responsibility upon owners of buildings and other combustible property.