Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1919 — Small Stove Is Dangerous As a Source of Fire When Overheated or Overloaded [ARTICLE]

Small Stove Is Dangerous As a Source of Fire When Overheated or Overloaded

Unlessproperly installed and nsed the smalfsfove is dangerous as « source of fire, according to the United States department. of agriculture. Some people expect too much of.s small stove and overwork It. . If ■ stove is too small* for the space it is expected to heat it is liable to be overheated or filled so full of fuel that fire will fall out on the floor when the door is opened. The pipe also is liable to be overheated and the resultant danger is cited as a great source of farm blazes. Stoves should not be placed close to papered walls or woodwork unless proper protection is provided. The floor near stoves or fireplaces also should be covered with some nonInflammhble material. Screens, to prevent coals dropping on the floor, should be placed. The door leading to the fire box on a stove should never be left open to check the draft, as the small explosions constantly occurring in the fire are very apt to throw out live coals and start a fire. Open fireplaces should not be used unless provided with effective screens. Chimneys should be cleaned regularly to remove soot and any other inflammable material. This is best accomplished by means of pieces of metal (such as scrap tin), limbs of an evergreen tree, or a bundle of brush attached to a rope, chain, or wire and worked up and down in the chimney from the top.