The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-10-01
FIGHTING FOREST FIRES
State Forester Beasley Warns His
Hen To Be On Alert.

the State 20 be on the alert for
forest fires. Notices and warnings
to be posted On forest tree nave
also been furnished the wardens.
There have been ouly two forest
fires in the State in September,
and both were checked by the
quick work Of the forests wardens.
Both occurred on September IS.
At Gilpin, Allegany county, War
den H. S. Crumbine checked a
fire that threatened a schoolhouse
and large wooded tract. The
other fire was at Swallow Falls,
Garrett county, and was extin-
guished by Forest Warden NJ. c.
Browning, This fire threatened
the State forest reserve.
While there are no exact rule for
fighting forest fires, because each
fire must be fought with methods
best suited to the occasion, accord
ing to Mr.. Beasley, yet he has for
INFLATED set of general rules
which are sent to wardens and
owners Of forests. They are as
follows:
The best tools with which to
fight a fire are the rake, hoe, shovel
and ak.
A fire that could be put out by
one man in 10 minutes, if left to
spread, and under a high wind,
may battle the combined efforts of
100 men a few hours later. There
fore, get to the fire as soon as pos
sible.
When fire gets under Roadway
in dry, open woods it is best to
go some little distance ahead to a
road or stream and start back
fire. In backfiring, however, use
less destruction should be avoided.
With all fires the night or early
morning hours are the best time
to work whenever any choice exists
for nearly every forest fire dies
down more or less during the cool
OF the night and then flare mp
again during the heat of the day.
y fire goes up a slope rapidly,
pause at TIE crest of the hill, and
is somewhat retarded in going
down. Therefore, If possible, use
the crest Of the ridge and bottom
as lines of attack.
Protect the valuable timber rath-
er than the brush or waste.
Never leave a fire until it is out.
Young timber suffers more from
a fire than old, mature timber.
j surface fire in open woods,
though not dangerous, greatly
damage young Seeding trees.
Spring fires are damaging to the
trees, for they are full Of sap and
can endure little heat.
Fall fire, owing to the ground
being dry, usually runs deep,
burning off the roots of trees and
consumingssall the vegetable ma
terial so valuable to the trees as
mulch or fertilizer.
OF greater value than rules is
the experience, activity and re-
sourcefulness of the Forest War
den in whom great reliance is
placed.
These rules, Mr. Beasley said,
are the result of experience. While
hoes and rakes are good things,
forked stick is sometimes better if
the fire is so accommodating as
to occur where there are no hoes
and rakes. Also, he pointed out,
where there are no roads or streams
from which back6ring may be
started, it is easy with a pronged
stick to rake wide path in the
leaves and start the backfring
from the side of the path nearest
the fire. 1t is necessary to have
the path in the leaves wide enough
to prevent the fire jumping across.
The money loss due to the de-
struction of timber and retardine
the growth of future timber by
fires is not the only consideration
to occupy the study of foresters.
While the money damage of the
August fires in British Columbia,