The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-05-04

SsALfM, w.. May S.---Among tn
most important OF the acts adopted b,
the Legislature. which goes into etyec
ssth. Is that which provides protection
against forest fires, creates stat,
Board OF Forestry, provides for the ap,
pointment OF state Fire wardens
prescribes their powers and duties
provides for a closed season when the
starting Of fires In dangerous proxtm.
ity to timber, etc, and repeals the acl
OF 1905.
The new act with the exception that
It's provisions are much more stringcn,
and tightly drawn regarding the set
Ing out OF fires ana that the appoint.
ing power OF flre wardens, Or rangers,
Is removed from the county courts and
delegated to the State Board OF For.
estry and the penalties 10 violations
as made little more severe. Is in sub
stance practically the same as the act
OF 1895 and II goes into effect at a
time when the operations OF the two
acts win join together harmoniously
and without necessitatlng any radical
changes.
| The State Fire Warden. at least one
one, II necessary. more, to be appoint
TED in each county, subject to the
recommendation of property owners or
counties, shall serve without compen-
sation from the state and must depend
upon the county or property owners
for whatever compensation they may
receive. State and county officials,
constables, sheriffs ana deputy sherlffs,
whose duties make their ex-ofilcia SER
vices as fire wardens especially desIr-
able as a convenience 10 the public,
shall accept appointments as sucn
when formally requested by the State
Board OF Forestry.
Fire wardens shall be clothed with
the power of peace officers to make arr
rests for violations OF forest laws, and
they are required to keep a constant
lookout for fires In their Jurisdiction
and to see that vlolators Of the law are
quickly brought TO punishment; any
neglect or infraction OF the duties
prescribed to the fire wardens subjects
them to fine Of not less than $50 nor
more than 1850, or imprisonment.
The closed season for fires is from
June l to October OF each year, |
during which period It shall be unlaw-
full for any one to set on fire or cause |
to be set on fire any slashlng, chopping
wood. wood land or brush land, either
his own or the property OF another,
without permission from a state fire
warden and strict compliance with the
terms Of same, but this restriction
does not apply to the burning OF log
piles, stumps or brush heaps In small
quantities, at a safe distance from
another infammable material and un-
der adequate precautions and personal
control and in accordance with regu-
latlons to be adopted by the board;
but II any such burning without per-
mission shall result In the escape Of
fire to the property Of another, this
shall be i1eld as prlma facle evidence
that such burning was not safe ana
was a violation of this section.
Any person who sets on fire or
causes to be set on fire any woods,
brush, grass, grain, stubble or other
being or growing on any
lands not his own, without permission
from the owner, or who wlIlfully or,
negligently allows fire to escape from
his own land, or anyone who acci-
lentally sets any fire on his own land :
Dr. another's and allows II to escape
rom his control without extingulshing /
It, or using every effort to do 80. is l
subject to punishment by fine Of not {
ess than $50 nor more than $1,000, or !
for not less than one 4
month nor more than one year.
1t is lawful, however, to build camp !
Tres, in a careful manner on any un-
nclosed lands, the owner Of which has (
lot forbidden the building Of same by (
personal or posted notice. II, before :
departing the builder of the fire totally !
the same; neither do ]