The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-11-05
FOREST FIRES.
What Causes Them and Who Is ReSpOn
SIble for Them?
Forest Service.)

This question has been asked over
and over again this summer by read
ers of the accounts of the destruc-
tive fires which have been raging in
all parts of the country.
Campers and locomotives, is the
usual answer. Many of the other
things which start blazes in the for
est are forgotten. 1t is true that
perhaps one-half to three-fourths
of the forest fires do begin as re-
result Of the carelessness of some
camper, or from sparks flying from
locomotives, but there are a number
of things which set the woods a-fre.
A complete report of forest fires
on the private forests of the country
and their causes is not kept by any
one. Uncle Sam, however, is most
careful to account for the damage
done by the blazes on his timberland
under forest administration, aggre-
eating about $4,000, 900 acres, and
each year the total area burned over,
the timberland burned over, the
amount Of timber destroyed and its
value, the cost of fighting fires, and
the causes of fires are carefully
checked up. These reports are made
at the end Of the calendar year, and
the announcement of this years los
ses will therefore not be known for
more than two months.
Last years figures, however. give
a good idea of the things which cause
fires In forests. Of the 1883 fires
discovered on the National Forests
last year, all of which were checked
by the rangers before they had
burned over fourteen hundredths
Of one per cent. of the Natural For
est area, campers caused 246, while
railroads followed next with 273;
came next, with 176;
donkey engines used in numbering
operations, fourth, with IS; careless
brush burning by homesteaders
clearing land, "a; fires caused by in
cendiaries and those set by herders
and hunters, 80. For more than 400
of the fires the cause is not
known. This is not strange when it
is remembered that fire may
smolder for days, if the air is too
thick to permit the smoke to be seen
at a distance before it breaks out
when famed by wind so as to re-
veal its presence to the watchful
forest officer.
While campers caused more fires
than locomotives last year, there are
many seasons when the railroads
hold undisputed claim to first place.
Forest fires started by both are
mostly unnecessary. If campers
would exercise care in starting
camp fires and be sure that they are
extinguished before they are left,
and if railroad companies would use
the most modern and efficient spark
it is reasonable to think
that the annual forest fire loss could
be reduced more than one-half.
ranks third among the
causes Of fires, and of course, man
has no greater responsibility in this
case than to put the fire out as soon
as possible after discovery. Careless
brush burning by homesteaders and
persons clearing land is said to be
the cause of many Of the fires which
have started this year, particularly
those which have swept over the
Lake States.
The ranger force on many of the
National Forests has been kept busy
fighting fires which, if left to run
unchecked, would have done incal-
culable damage. By quickening
between important
points through the construction Of
telephone lines, and building roads
and trails, the National Forests
have been made more accessible dur
ing the past two years and fire fight
ino has been greatly facilitated.