Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 309, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1920 — FIRE COMPANY HAD TWO CHILLY RUNS [ARTICLE]

FIRE COMPANY HAD TWO CHILLY RUNS

The fire department had two very chilly runs within a period of twenty hours, the first occurring about two o’clock Monday afternoon when a run was made to the home of Milton Michaels on North Cullen street, and the second about nine o’clock this Tuesday morning following a call from the home of W. C. Babcock on College avenue. Both fires resulted from defective flues. The fire at the Michaels home started at the base of the chimney in the basement, some, boards which had been used in repairing the chimney catching fire. The fire at the Babcock home resulted from a spark. from the chimney falling on 4 the roof and setting fire to jt. Both blazes were extinguished without difficulty and the loss in each instance was small. Chief Montgomery urges that property owners keep their chimneys free from soot, that the numerous fires which resulted from sparks falling on the roof last winter may not be repeated, and advises that chimneys be burned out at least once a month during the winter months when so much coal is used*. In the month of January alone last year thirteen fires resulted in the above manner, but if our citizens will exert greater precaution, the number of tires can be greatly reduced. The new fire truck was not used at the fires, as it has not been 'accepted as yet by the city, and will not be until the city officials are satisfied that it is mechanically sound in every way.