Fire Prevention Week 1936
The Courier-Post ran a series of articles and photographs about activities to educate the public during Fire Prevention Week in October of 1936.
Also in the newspaper that month was a series of articles by reporter Frank Sheridan chronicling the history of fire fighting in Camden from 1810 through 1936. It was the first complete history of the fire department written since 1886 and linked the old volunteers with the then new paid motorized department. It was published in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, which was sponsored by the Camden County Fire Chiefs Association and the Camden Fire Department.
Camden Courier-Post — October 3, 1936
Camden Courier-Post —
Fire Prevention Week to Start Tomorrow Aided by Churches
Mrs. Kobus Gives Official Approval to Proclamation to Be Read to Congregations; School Drills Included in Program
City Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, recovering at her home from an accidental fall in July, is shown signing the Fire Prevention Week proclamation of the Camden County Fire Chiefs Association, with Battalion Chief Charles Erickson, of the city fire department looking on. The above is the first newspaper picture of Mrs. Kobus since the accident.
City Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, as director of public safety, yesterday gave official approval to a proclamation of the fire prevention committee of the Camden County Fire Chiefs’ Association calling for observance of Fire Prevention Week, beginning tomorrow. Municipal heads throughout the county also have subscribed to the proclamation, which will be read in many churches at tomorrow’s services. The proclamation follows: “The President of the United States has proclaimed the week of October 4 to 10 as Fire Prevention Week. A campaign is being waged by the Camden County Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Camden city fire department to save life and property in the city and county.
“Such activities result not only in safeguarding lives and property but in reducing fire waste due to carelessness, reducing taxes to cover fire department expenditures, stmulating [sic] civic pride and helping to remove fire hazards in the 58,364 homes in the city and county. The public is urged to support plans which have been perfected to conduct a comprehensive and vigorous campaign in every city, borough and town of Camden County during the week to remove all fire hazards in the homes and inspect all chimneys, smokepipes, heating systems, electrical wiring and all other appliances in the home that may be the direct cause of a fire.” Commissioner Kobus at 3 p. m. tomorrow will give the first of five daily radio addresses on fire prevention to be broadcast from Station WCAM. On Monday at 4 p. m. there will be a radio talk by Chief John H. Lennox, of the Camden department.
At the same hour Tuesday the speaker will be Deputy Chief William Harring; on Wednesday, Deputy Chief William Mertz; on Thursday, Battalion Chief Walter Mertz, and on Friday, Clifford F. Evans, president of the chiefs’ association.
The program of activities throughout the week includes lectures on fire prevention by fire chiefs and fire drills in the schools; inspection of firehouses, and equipment by school children, accompanied by teachers; inspection of stores, factories, garages and public buildings by members of fire departments upon request of owners; inspection of homes and instruction in cleaning houses and other fire-prevention work by firemen upon request, and demonstration of fire-fighting equipment for the general public throughout the county.
A special exhibition drill is to be held at the Firemen’s Training School, Ninth street and Morgan boulevard, Friday afternoon.
Camden Courier-Post — October 7, 1936
Camden Courier-Post —
City Firemen Pass Out ‘Prevention’ Helps
Scene in front of Engine Company No. 8 headquarters, 1813 Broadway yesterday, as members of the company handed passersby educational pamphlets to further the objectives of Fire Prevention Week now being observed in city and county. More than 30,000 of the pamphlets are being distributed.
What One Does With Rubbish Held Test of Good Citizenship
Deputy Chief Calls for Burning of Junk and Burying Dead Leaves to Prevent Menace of Fire in Homes
“Tell me what you do with your rubbish and I’ll tell you what kind of a citizen you are.”
Deputy Chief William R. Harring, of the Camden city fire department, set up that test in a radio talk yesterday afternoon in connection with the observance of Fire Prevention Week in city and county.
“If you dispose carefully of every bit of your rubbish, your oily rags, and all your broken furniture, your old newspapers and all things of that kind you are a good citizen,” said Harring, “but if you allow them to accumulate you are not only a bad citizen but a menace to your neighbors.”
Harring related an incident in his own experience to point out that the attractive outward appearance of a dwelling is no assurance of the safety of the occupants from the menace of fire.
More Dangerous Than Bombs
“It was a lovely house, with rolled lawns, flower beds, gravel walks and bright awnings at every window, and yet that house was more dangerous than an enemy plane dropping bombs,” he said. “I had occasion to make an inspection there one day and this is what I found: ‘In the cellar and also under the piazza were barrels and packing cases used when the family moved in, also the excelsior that came around the new living room clock, a few old chairs, a table, a disabled rocking horse, and several boxes of old magazines. On the second floor I found that the good lady of the house was keeping all her light Summer dresses in a closet which had a steam pipe passing through it. In the garret were a number of old straw hats, two or three broken mattresses, a lot of old clothes hanging on hooks, two trunks full of old papers and three old Christmas trees. What makes such things catch fire? It may be from the furnace, a spark from a cigarette, a candle dropped by someone, the torch of a plumber, or perhaps they just catch fire from what is known as spontaneous ignition, which is a fire that starts itself. You never know when that will happen.’”
Warns of Burning Leaves
Harring advised burning of worthless junk, but at the same time warned against burning dead leaves near the home. These, he said, should be burned instead…
Camden Courier-Post — October 8, 1936
Camden Courier-Post —
Window Display Shows Fire Hazards
In connection with Fire Prevention Week, the Camden fire department and the Camden County Fire Chiefs Association have installed an exhibit of stoves, electric irons and other articles that have figured as the causes of dwelling fires in this area, in a window of the store of M. A. Bruder & Sons, 1043 Broadway. The store is also a registration place for householders in the city or from any county community who desire a free fire department inspection of their home for the elimination of fire hazards.
Fire Drills in Home Explained To Pupils at Audubon High
Erickson Gives Tips on Proper Conduct When Blaze Threatens Home; Camden and Suburban Pupils Shown How to Vacate Buildings
“What do you mean by fire drills in the home?” They asked Battalion Chief Charles Erickson that question yesterday when he addressed Audubon High School students yesterday [sic] on fire prevention. There were several hundred students in the auditorium.
In Fire Prevention Week activities in Camden city and county considerable stress has been placed on the importance of home fire drills. The city’s “Voice of Safety” car has been broadcasting the idea in its tours of the city and county communities.
Fire drills in schools were familiar enough to the Audubon High audience, but home drills—that was something else again.
So Chief Erickson explained: “It’s just a matter of getting the family together, say, once a month, and figuring out in advance just what to do in case of fire, especially at night, when the members are asleep. It’s a matter of determining beforehand the best procedure in any conceivable situation.”
Other practical pointers on what to do in case of fire were given by Deputy Chief Walter Mertz, of the city fire department, in a radio talk yesterday afternoon. “If you awaken at night and smell smoke,” he said, “don’t open the door and let in superheated air and fumes. Place your hand on the door and if it feels hot, keep it closed. If it’s not hot, place your foot against it, avert your face and open the door a little. If there is pressure from fire outside, you can then slam the door shut and seek another means of exit.”
Safety Voice in Tour
The “Voice of Safety” car yesterday visited Bellmawr—where Fire Chief William Fennimore and Captain William McLaughlin conducted a fire drill at the local school—Mt. Ephraim, Runnemede, Baickwood and Audubon.
In Camden, fire drills under the supervision of Bernard G. Gallagher and Acting Junior Captain Frank Oberman, of No. 2 Truck Company, Sixth street and Kaighn avenue, were held in the following schools: Gaighn, Mt. Vernon Correctional, Whittier, St. Joseph’s Polish parochial, Bonsall, Lincoln, Parkside, and Broadway.