The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-07-16
TO FIGHT FOREST FIRES
Lumbermen's Associations Cooperate
With Forest Service In
Fire Patrol

/ Va sAShap OiC.' July al q
being formulated for cooperative
system Of fire patrol between the
Forest Service and the Lumbermen's
Protective Associations in northern
Idaho. The associations represented
are the Potlatch Timber association,
Clearwater Fire Protective associa-
tion, Occur d'Alene Timber Protective
association, and the Pend Oreille
Timber Protective association. The
proposed agreement between the sew
eral associations and the Forest Ser
vice for patrolling the territory that
comes within the boundaries of the
National Forests In Idaho and the
holdings Of the several private associ-
atoms was unanimously adopted at
joint meeting of the officers, direc-
tors, and members of the several as
sociations interested, and Is substan-
TALLY as follows:
1. The secretary of each associa-
tion Is authorized to act with the dis
trict forester or his representative In
establishing cooperative fire districts
which include National Forest and as
ISOLATION lands up to any reasonable
or necessary limit outside of the Ma
tional Forest, determining the acre
age of the holdings OF each party in
each district, and establishing upon
the basis Of such acreage q pro rata
share which each party shall pay of
all expenditures, In addition to and
not including the salaries and travel
ing expenses of the men engaged
on actual patrol work, which may be
incurred In extinguishing forest fires
In that district.
q The agreement is to apply on
W to National Forest land and to
lands owned by the associations which
are included In the cooperative fire
districts to be established in the man
ner above prescribed.
3. The Forest Service Is to furn-
ish such patrolmen on these areas
as are available under its appropria-
ton; and the association will furn-
ish not less than an equal number for
Its lands, on the basis of acreage per
man. The Supervisor of each Ma
tional Forest shall make such ar
as are practicable with
the local fire wardens of the associa-
ton to divide areas for patrol and
any other arrangements advisable to
avoid duplication Of work and to
make the patorl by both parties most
economical and effective.
A. Every member of both patrol
sorces In the cooperative fire district
s to keep vigilant lookout for for
sst fires and exert every effort to ex-
inguish them, whether on lands be-
onging to the association or to the
government. The association and the
Forest Service shall furnish the SER
ices of all their available employees
o fight fires which cannot be extin-
'uished by the regular patrol forces
i the district. The patrolman on each
district Is authorized to purchase
ools and supplies, hire temporary
nen and pay other expenses necessary
0 extinguish any fires in the dis
riot.
.. Each cooperative district will
re placed for purposes Of fire fighting
n charge OF an officer to be agreed
pon by the Forest Supervisor and
he Secretary OF the association. This
fiicer will assume charge, when pres
mt, of all fires within his district.
he first patrolman who reaches a
re. the officer In charge of the dis
rict not being present, shall assume
barge OF the fire until such district
fficer arrives.
q. The association agrees to give
he Forest Service the privilege of
onstructing roads or trails across
heir holdings, not to exceed four feet
4 width, for fire protective purposes.
During the latter part of May Dis
riot Forester Greeley met the Sec
etaries Of each association, and final
laps, outlining cooperative districts,
nd definitely determining the pro
alta share for each district were COM
leted. This will insure the co-opera-
I've agreement being put into full
'rce and effect during the coming
re season.
The enormous destruction caused
y fires during the past season has
lade 1t imperatively necessary that
,me practical and systematic plan
, protect the valuable timberlands in
orthern Idaho be adopted. Follow
10 the passage Of the Fallen Fire law
lis cooperative agreement marks a
rong progressive move on the part
the lumbermen and assures a good
fective results in badly fre-in-
sted territory.