In the matter of building inspection by fire department officials under the law, the history of many cities gives incontrovertible evidence of its efficacy in the prevention of fires. In Massachusetts fire prevention legislation and inspection reduced the annual fire occurrence in 25 cities from an average of 400 to 100, and the annual recorded losses by $2,000,000. In 1913 the fire prevention bureau was established in the fire department of New York City. In 1912 15,633 fires were reported, with a total loss of $9,069,500. In the first year of the ex istence of the bureau the number of fires was less by 1,800, and the loss by $2,300,000. In the bureau's second year there were 2,600 fewer fires than in 1912, and the loss was $3,500,000 less. The bureau has a staff of about 200 offi cers, who inspect 70,000 buildings annually, and average 14,000 cases for fire prevention work. This is ordered by the proper authority, and its execution is attested by another inspec tion. The chief of the bureau has the power to order any building vacated in which the precautions ordered are not carried out; but this drastic power has never had to be utilized.
See also FIREPROOF CONSTRUCTION ; FIRE PRO TECTION.
Bibliography.— Croker, E. F., (Fire Pre vention) (New York 1912) ; Freitag, J. K., (Fire Prevention and Fire Protection as Ap plied to Building Construction' (New York 1912); Holt, H. G., (Fire Protection in Build ings) (London 1913); Hutson, A. C., (Fire Prevention and Protection) (New York 1916) ; Matthews, W. D.,