CHAPTER IX.

FIRE AND ITS DANGERS.

Loss from fire preventible--Official enquiries into fires--Rapid increase and statistics of fires--Causes of London fires in 1873--Tin, lead, etc. combustible--Watching buildings--Sweeping chimneys--Precautions against fire--Detection of fire--Danger to life--The smoke respirator--Escape from a burning house--Fire-escapes--Directions for saving and restoring life--Curious instances of fires 98