The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-09-16
FIGHTING FOREST FIRES
From the u. S. Department
of Agriculture, Forest
Service

Washington, September lst: Of
ficials of the U. S. Department of
Agriculture are of the opinion that
1910 will hold the record among
many years for the severity of the
losses from forest fires. The summer
fires followed a spring season believed
to have been the worst, certainly in
the Lake States, known for a long
time. Nor is it wise to assume that
the danger is over when the fierce
CONGREGATIONS which have called
forth in the Mountain States the
efforts of three Federal Departments
have been conquered. The forests
will not be safe until the fall rains
and SHOWS have n c made a wet
blanket of the dry forest floor. That
the total losses of the year will run
up to many millions of dollars is con-
sidered certain.
How such losses may be prevented
is a matter of general public concern.
To the National Forest timber
burned must be added great amounts
on State and private holdings, besides
the immense damage done to town.
farm, and other property. Railroads
have suffered from the interruption
of traffic as we'll as from direct losses.
A bulletin by Forester Henry S.
Graves discusses forest fires and the
proper methods of preventing and
fighting them, as follows:
sin some sections of the country
forest fires have always been of such
common occurrence that there is a
popular notion that they can not be
prevented. The risk from fires can
never be entirely eliminated, for in
the forest there is always inham-
mable material which is very easily
ignited. They may, however, be
largely prevented, and under efficient
organization their damage may be
kept down to a very small amount.
The problem is like that in cities
where fires can be entirely
eliminated, but where the risk of loss
to property may be reduced almost to
insigniticance."
The Importance of systematic pro-
vision for the early discovery of fires
and for getting a properly equipped
force of fire fighters quickly to the
scene of an outbreak is insisted upon
by Forester Graves. "a careful sup.
ervision or patrol during the dry
season." he says, sis one of the most
important measures In organized for.
est protection. One of the funda.
mental principles in fire protection is
to detect and attack fires in their in.
cipiency." After pointing out the
value of lookouts, telephone or signal
communication and various methods
of patrol, the Forester tells how tc
fight fires, as follows:
"The principles of fighting forest
fires are essentially the same as those
recognized in fighting fires in cities.
The following are of first Importance
(D Quick arrival at the fire; ~ an
adequate force; (3) proper equipment;
N) . thorough organization of the
fighting crew, and (5) skill in attack.
ing and fighting fires. Quick access
to fires is accomplished through the
work of supervision and patrol in
discovering fires before they have
gained much Roadway, and by a well
developed system Of communication
through the forestb by roads ard trails.
"a small fire may be put out by
N man, but in extensive forests
several hours may pass before the
fire q be reached. 1t is important
to secure an adequate force of men
and to get them to the fire quickly.
In q well organized system of patrol
the guard who discovers a fire com.
municates quickly to other guards
and to headquarters by telephone,
signal, or other means and indicates
the number of men he needs.
THE efficiency of the fire fighting
crew depends very largely on their
skill and experience and particularly
on the skill and experience of the
man directing the work. 1t is not
only q question Of knowledge of how
to assign each man where his work
will be most effective, but there must
be Judgment exercised in determining
the general method of attack. The
character Of the fire, the character OF
S;