The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-30
Prevention of Forest Fires.


Now that the question of the preserva-
ton OF forests from destruction by fire Is
exciting much concern in a number OF the
states Of the Union, the provisions of the
law upon the subject at present in force in
the Province of Ontario may prove Of in
terest 10 the citizens of the United States
The commercial agent at Collngwood
transmits 20 the state department copy
OF the fun text Of the act of the provincial
legislature relating thereto. as from It's
brevity Il cannot well be epitomized:
An act 20 prevent the forests OF Ontario
from destruction by fire. Whereas large
quantities Of valuable timber are annually
destroyed by fires. which are IN many in
stances the result Of negligence and care
lessness. 1t l.. therefore, necessary To pro-
vide stringent regulations for the proven
ton OF such fires; therefore, her majesty
by and with the consent and advice Of the
Province of Ontario. enacts a follows.
l. The lieutenant governor may. by proc
iamatiOn to be made by him from time to
time. issued by and with the advice and
consent Of the executive council. declare
any portion or part OF the province Of on
tarlo to be a fire district.
2 Every proclamation under this act shall
be published in the Ontario Gazette, and
such portion or part of the province as is
mentioned and declared 10 be A fire district
In and by said proclamation. shall. from
and after the said publication, become a fire
district within the meaning and for the
purposes of this act
3 Every such portion or part OF the prov
ince mentioned In such proclamation shall
cease 10 be a fire district upon the revoca-
ton by the lieutenant governor in council
Of the proclamation by which it was
created.
4 II shall not be lawful for any person
to set ont. or cause 10 be set out or started
any fire IN or near the woods within any
fire district between the 1st day OF April
and the lst day OF November in any year
except for the purpose Of clearing land
cooking obtaining warmth. or for some
industrial purpose, and In cases Of start
Inc fires for any OF the above purposes The
obligations and precautions imposed by the
following sections shall ba observed.
Every person who shall between the
1=t dav OF April ana the Isl day of Novcn-
BIER make or start a fire within such fire dis
trirt for the purpose OF clearing land shall
exercise and observe every reasonable care
and precaution IN the making and starting
Of such FIRE and IN the managing Of and
caring for the same after IL has been made
and started. IN order 20 prevent such fire
from spreading or burning up the timber
and forests surrounding the place where il
has been so made and started.
8 Every person who shall. between the
Isl DAY OF April and the 1st day Of Novem-
her. make or star. within such fire dstrict
A fire i'm the forest or a. a distance ~ less
than half a mile therefrom. or upon any
island for cooking. obtaining warmth. or
FOR any Industrial purpose. shah ca select
a locality IN the neighborhood in which
there is the smallest quantity Of vegetable
matter. dead wood. branches, brushwoOd.
dry leaves or resinous trees. ChD clear tho
place an which he is about 81 light the
fire by removing all vegetable matter.
dead trees branches. OTlshwood and dry
leaves from the SOL within a radius Of ten
feet from the fire. 90 exercise ami observe
every reasonable care and precautlon 20
prevent such fire from spreading. and care
fully ext.neuish the same before quitting
the place
T. ANY person who shall throw or drop
any burning match. ashes ~ pipe. lighted
cigar. or any other burning substance. OF
who shall discharge any fre3rm within
such IRE strict shall be hfect 90 the
pains and penalties Imposed hy this act II
he neglect completely O. eNf .0Eulsh BEFORE
leaving the spot thc fire % such match.
ashes II o pipe. cigar. wadi.nE ~ the fire.
arm or other burning Substance.
: Every person l1 charge of any drive ~
timber survey or exploring party 0r Of
any other party requiring camp fr"s for
cooking or other purposes Within such Sire
district. shall provide himself With q copy
= this set. au1 shah .aN his men together
and cause said act 20 te read .u rhrir hear
ing and % he evu}alu.} % thsw al least
once. tn -aeh week during me continuance
~ such work rT service