100 Years Ago: Oct. 6-12

From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, October 8, 1923: The Indianapolis Fire Department, working with the Chamber of Commerce, civic clubs, churches, and schools, launched “Fire Prevention Week” yesterday in an effort to reduce city fires. The fire prevention campaign began with pleas from pulpits urging congregations to assist in the effort and throughout the week firefighters will visit schools speaking of ways in which fire losses can be reduced and instructing children on how to eliminate causes of fire. Tomorrow, the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, demonstrations of firefighting methods will be given at fire headquarters and fire prevention motion pictures will be shown at different engine houses. Fire Chief John O’Brien said 85 percent of all fires in Indianapolis are preventable and the largest single cause of fires was the use of wooden shingles rather than nonflammable roofs.