Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-02
Sent 10 Fire Wardens by
Forestry Department /
Relative TO Their Work and
Making Up Reports.
Enlolnsd to Keep Sharp Lockout
During Dry Seasons.

The State forestry department is
sending out instructions to fire war
| dens in the following language:
I'm making up their reports wardens
should see that they are made in ac-
cordance with the law, thus avoiding
The Inconvenience OF having them re-
turned for correction.
They should then be forwarded to
the chief fire warden of the district
in which the fire occurs who will be
promptly paid. No warden should
| neglect to send in every bin contract
ed at least once month. All bills
must be approved by the chief fire
| warden in the district where the same
is contracted. See that your bills are
| certified to before Justice in ac-
cordance with the law. Whenever it
is necessary for you to pay out any
| money, be sure to take a receipt and
| enclose ii with your report. This will
be necessary if You expect to be re-
imbursed.
IAN important part of practical
| forestry is the prevention of fire.
This cannot be accomplished success
July WITHOUT a well-0rganiZcd force
IN which the duties of each individ-
| ual are well defined and clearly nn-
| dorstood. To this end the following
| instructions should receive careful
| consideration:
III is the duty of the fire chief to
see that the district fire wardcns are
fully supplied with printed notices
containing the rules and regulations
relating to the prevention of forest
fires. Early in the season notices are
| sent to all wardens but more can be
Obtained at any time by writing to the
Forest Commissioner. The district
| fire Wardens should see that their re-
spective districts are properly posted
with these notices, putting them along
each forest trail and location fire.
quented by fishermen and hunting
parties. During the Cry season when
fires are most likely to occur. espec-
tally in the spring before the trees are
in leaf. the chief fire wardens and their
deputies should keep a sharp lookout
Tor any sign of fire and have every
thing in readiness SO that when the
smoke is seen there will be no I'M
necessary delay in reaching the spot
Fishermen. hunters and campers
should always be cautioned whenever
the opportunity offers, to be careful
IN ire use Of fire; to refrain from
throwing lighted matches on tho
ground; and especially. to eXtinguish
their camp fires before leaving them.
NO instructions seem necessary
here as to how the work at a forest
fire should be conducted. for it is as
sumed that each fire warden has had
ample experience in this respect AT
the same time it may be we'll to re-
member that back firing should not
be resorted to until it's necessity is
plainly evident; and even then, the
entire situation should first be CAREFUL
ly examined and well understood.
1T should be remembered also, in
controlling woodland fire, one hours
work in the morning or late evening
is worth six in the middle of the day.
For this reason, if a fire is not extin-
guished at evening, the men should
remain on the ground all night. and
the fire wardens should make arrange
ments to send in food and blankets to
the crew. If the men are allowed to
leave a fire at evening and go back TO
their homes much valuable time is
lost.
Especial pains should be taken to
person or persons who started it. Too
many reports are received in which
| the printed questions as to the origin
of the fire answered with the words
Cause unknown II attended to
promptly there should be but little
trouble in ascer aiming the point at
which the fire started. and in most
cases who started it. The facts then
should be written out fully in the re-
port, no matter whom it may concern.
Each fire warden should discharge his
duty fearlessly in this respect, with
out fear or favor If the fire warden is
unable to report definitely as to who
tho guilty parties were and their con-
nection with it, he should give his
opinion as to the cause and who were
| TO blame in the matter
I'm addition 10 answering fully the
| printed questions in the report the
| fire warden should furnish such fur
| ther information as may not be con-
| veyed in the preceding answers. and
| should take pains to include also ev-
| crythirg that might relate directly or
indirectly to the matter. After a fire
occurs. the fire chief warden should
as soon as possible. mail the report of
the same to the forest commissioner.
using the printed form furnished for
the purpose.
Every effort should be made by the
wardens TO bring to justice any and
ell violators OF the forest fire law