7Tide, -Sun, Temp. Weather Forecast 7 .Lgh J4~-S:O~m UA with winds Low tide-- :4Opm U L 12-14 knots. Swtve---- :l5pm f Bay cond. 2 High --- 90 1A. ~soe ko'eb~ei~~Irbjd.3 feet. Vol. 31 No. 169 U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Wednesday, September 1, 1976 Short circuit of spliced electrical cord cause of fire The Navy and Marine Corps fire loss experience (ashore) for FY 1975 indicates that 9.2 per cent or $323,048 of the total loss was due to electrical problems (wiring, cables, fuses, conveyors or electric- ity). Electrical fires were second highest in cause after incendiarism which ranked number one with a total loss of $935,780, or 26.5 per cent. In almost all fires there are ma- jor or minor factors contributing to the cause of the fire. The fact- ors may be one or a combination of the following: human element fail- ure, improper or defective equip- ment, improper operating procedures, poor housekeeping, improper instal- *etion of equipment, or improper intenance. Last Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a fire in family quarters N-306. A room air conditioner had been provided with a spliced electrical service cord. The electrical cord was connected to an ungrounded wall recepticle. A short circuit occurred at the FIRE: Right photo: Three wires from air conditioner (upper left) were spliced portion of the electrical spliced into a power cord and plugged into an ungrounded wall recepta- cord igniting some clothing that had cle (lower right) which short circuited causing fire. Left photo: Bed- been placed over it. room of family quarters N-306. (Photos by FLTAVCENCARIB) Improper or defective equipment, improper maintenance/installation of equipment caused the short cir- walls or under carpets, or be used lamp cords as extension material. wall outlet by pulling on the plug cuit, resulting in fire. Damage to as permanent wiring. (1K) A drop cord or lamp holder is cap and not the cord. the building was approximately (10) All cords and connections built to safely carry the current (16) Grounding: In residential $3,168, and personal property was should be protected from mechanical demanded by a lamp bulb and will occupancies the following items estimated at $4,000. damage. overheat when used for appliances must be grounded: refrigerators, The following suggestions, if drawing more current. freezers, air conditioners; clothes- utilized, may help reduce fire washing, clothes-drying and dish- (11) Disconnect all appliances (14) Electrical appliances or de- loss: washing machines; sump pumps, and such as toasters, coffee pots, vices that do not bear the label of (1) Do not use equipment of a electrical aquarium equipment; port- irons, hair dryers, when not in use. Factor Mutual Laboratories or the higher capacity than your circuit able, hand-held, motor-operated tools (12) Extensions to permanent Underwriters Laboratories should not is designed to of the following handle. wiring often create serious electri- be used. and appliances (2) Do not make a "Christmas tree" cal fire hazards through the use of types: drills, hedge clippers, lawn out of an electrical outlet by improper joints and splices and (15) Disconnect a cord from the mowers, sanders and saws. having more than one plug inserted into the outlet at one time, i.e. two and three way plugs. Carter wins endorsement of labor leaders (3) Never replace a blown fuse or @set a breaker without having the Republican platform again, he should the size of the nation's parks, use checked. read the Democratic policy. wildlife refuges and recreation (4) Never tie knots in cords. The meeting with Catholic leaders areas. The program actually provides (5) Never hang cords over metal apparently did not have as much funds for land purchases that would objects. success as the labor conference. add only about one-half of one per (6) Keep.flexible cords as short Council Chairman Archbishop Joseph cent of the current acreage. The as possible. Bernardin said he was disappointed rest of the. increase is to come k/) Replace cords when they show with Carter's refusal to support a from a program which has been in constitutional wear or become cracked. Repairing amendment to ban effect for three years. abortions. He said Carter repeated of cords by taping may result in Ford yesterday criticized the his personal opposition to abor- additional hazards. tax plan agreed upon by Senate- tions. (8) Lamp shades, curtains, draper- House conferees which would extend At an airport news conference in ies, and similar combustible fabrics, $15 billion in individual income tax New York last night Carter said the plastics, or paper products should cuts. He called the agreement Ford administration had made no never be allowed close to electric "half a loaf." The President ad- long-range commitment toward coming light bulbs or other heat-producing WASHINGTON (AP)--Democratic presi- vocates a $28 billion tax cut and a up with a program that would solve electrical equipment. dential nominee Jimmy Carter won similar cut in spending. the problems of urban areas. He Press. Ford plans to meet tonight (9) Extension cords should be re- strong endorsements yesterday from said as President he would make a with a 29-member steering committee stricted to their proper use. Such organized labor leaders. The AFL- "permanent commitment" to the fin- that is to evaluate his election cords should not be run through CIO said it would launch a massive ancially-troubled city. campaign. get-out-the-vote campaign for the Carter's running mate Sen. Walter November election. Carter also met Filling station explosion Mondale met with California Gov. with the National Council of Edmund Brown Jr. in Sacramento Catholic Bishops during his Hays may resign yesterday. Brown promised to sup- kills 3 firemen Washington visit. port the Democratic ticket in his Carter went before (UPI)--Static electricity from a the joint board state. seat in House truck driver's clothes apparently of the AFL-CIO with a speech assail- (AP)--A source close to Wayne Hays set off an explosion yesterday at a ing Ford administration economic Pres. Ford officially sent to says the Ohio congresman may an- filling station in Gadsden, Ala., policies. Congress yesterday his $1.5 billion ndunce by the end of the week that drawing firefighters to battle the George Meany, president of the 14 national parks program. He said he is resigning his seat in the blaze. When they got there, the million member AFL-CIO, said or- the 10-year program would double ganized labor would do everything House. real tragedy occurred. Hays reportedly wants to stem the A second blast caught firemen and humanly and legally possible to House Ethics Committee probe of his spectators in what one witness said helo elect Carter. O.W.C. to have welcome sex scandal, an investigation was a "massive" explosion that sent Ford's campaign committee quickly responded with a statement from touched off by Elizabeth Ray's flames "hundreds of feet into the aboard coffee claim she was on Hays' Capitol Hill air." Three firemen, including the Secy. of the Treasury William E. Would you like more people to know payroll because she was his mis- fire chief, died in the blast and Simon, who said the Carter proposal about your club, special interest tress. 22 others were hurt. All three of was appalling. "While Mr. Carter's group or particular service to the The source says the continuing the dead were inside the station words are typically vague and community? The Officers' Wives Club media attention being focused on when the second explosion, which general, they represent nothing has the answer. Send a representa- the scandal is ruining Mrs. Hays' covered three acres, went off. less than a thinly disguised plan tive to the annual O.W.C. welcome health. An Ethics Committee source Police say the service station, to politicize the nation's mone- says once a congressman resigns, a tank truck, a fire truck, two tary system," Simon said. aboard coffee at the COMO Club to- the panel no longer has the power mobile homes and 10 other assorted Republican vice presidential nom- morrow from 10 to noon. While in- to investigate his conduct. trucks, vans and cars were de- inee Robert Dole discounted Meany's forming the new neighbors about Miss Ray told reporters she is stroyed. support of Carter. Dole said Meany you club you can also boost your sorry Hays is leaving Congress, but Ambulances were making as many as does not speak for the union's membership' For further informa- she doesn't feel responsible for runs to Gadsden's two hospitals rank-and-file. Dole told reporters tion call Pam Von Spiegelfeld at six demolishing his political career. after the second explosion. that before Meany criticizes the 951221. Page 2 Guantanamo Gazette Wednesday, September 1, 1976 COMPANY "LIt ACTIVITIES INFORMATION ON LEAVE FLIGHTS The following C-118 flight' dates Tr- Company "L" Vives Club will meet will be requested through at 2C E. Bargo at 7:30 on Tuesday, May 1977 for space available travel to and They will play bingo after the from Norfolk, Va. Should a C-9 meeting. Cards will be 250 each aircraft be assigned, a one day and prices will be given. ar- For more rival and departure will be effect- Community information call Pat Smith at 97168. ive, usually on Wednesdays. Also there will be a hail Changes and will be announced as they become fairwell luncheon at the new available. Editor's note: The de- Nautical Lantern 'his Friday, from parture date for the first flight Bulletin noon :!'Itl- until 1.