Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-07
PLANS TO FIGHT
FIRE IN TIMBER.
Department of Agriculture Con-
SiderS Method for Preventing
Destruction of Forests
NEED PATROL IN DRY SEASON
Properly Equipped Force NeCeS-
sary for Early Discovery and
Subduing of Flames
NEED PATROL IN DRY SEASON
Especial to The Herald)

of the United States 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 1t wise to assume that the
danger is over when the fierce con-
fagrations 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 once more 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 considered GER
tain.
How such losses may be prevented
is a matter of general public concern
To the nation forest timber burned
must be added great amounts on state
and private holdings, besides the I'M
mense damage done to town, farm and
other property Railroads have suf-
fered from the interruption of traffic
as we'll as from direct losses. A bull
letin by Forester Henry S. Graves dis
cusses forest fires and the proper
methods of preventing and fighting
them, as follows:
I'm some sections Of the country
forest fires have always been of such
common occurrence that there is
popular notion that they cannot be
prevented. The risk from fires can
never be entirely eliminated. for in the
forest there is always inflammable
material which is very easily ignited
They may, however, be largely pre-
off 7 y a.
ton their damage may be kept down
to a very small amount. The problem
is like that in cities, where fires can
never be entirely eliminated, but
where the risk of loss to property may
be reduced almost to insignificance."
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 >su-
pervision or patrol during the dry
season." he says, sis one of the most
important measures in organized for
est protection. One of the fundamen-
tai 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 10
fight fires, as follows:
1.-THE principles of fighting forest
fires are essentially the same as those
recognized in fighting fires in cities.
The following are of first Importance:
"a Quick arrival at the fire; (2) an
adequate force; (3 proper equipment;
(4)a Through 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 dis
covering fires before they have gained
much headway, and by well-devel-
oped = system of communication
the forest by roads and trails.
"A small fire may be put out by one
man, but in extensive forests several
hours may pass before the fire can be
reached. It is important to secure an
adequate force of men andsto get them
to the fire quickly. In a well-organ-
ized system of patrol the guard who
discovers a fire communicates quickly
to other guards and to headquarters
by telephone, signal or other means,
and indicates the number of men he
needs.
1.-THE efficiency of the fire fighting
crew depends very largely on their
skill and experience, and particularly
the work 1t is not only a
question of knowledge of how to as
sign each man where his work will
be most effective, but there must be
judgment exercised in determining the
general method of attack. The char
acter of the fire, the character of the
forest, the condition of the atmosphere,
the strength and direction of the
wind, the rapidity with which the fire
is running and many other points haye
to be taken into consideration"
After describing how surface fires
may be put out by beating, by throw
ing sand or loose EARTH and by other
methods, the account goes on:
Sometimes the front of the fire is
so fierce that it is impossible to meet
it directly. One method under such
is to direct the course
of the fire. The attack is made on
the sides near the front, separating
the forward portion of the fire from
the main wings. A part of the crew
attacks the forward part and others
run down and extinguish the wings.
The front of the fire. attacked from
into narrower path.
Usually the front can be directed to-
ward some cleared space, road, pond,
stream, swamp or fire line when it
will be checked enough to admit of a
direct front attack. Sometimes by
this plan the front may be rapidly
by working from the sides
until it is at last entirely extinguished
The plan of giving direction to the
course of the fire has often been sue
cessfully carried out when the fighting
crew is too small for direct attack.
"When fires gain such headway that
it is impossible to stop them by direct
attack. no matter how numerous and
efficient the crew or complete the
for fighting, back firing
becomes the only means of stopping
the fire. 1t should, however, be used
only when 1t is absolutely necessary.
One of the commonest mistakes In
fighting fires is to overestimate the
rapidity of the fire and the difficulty
of putting it out. A forest fire is al
ways a frightening spectacle, partic-
ularly If it is sweeping in the direction
of ones own property. Men often be-
come excited and start back fires
when 1t is entirely unnecessary. Back
firing necessarily involves deliberately
burning over property. When this
belongs to another person and ones
own forest seems in danger there is
a great temptation to sacrifice 1t.
"If 1t is found that back fire Is
a favorable point is select
ed directly in front of the fire, from
which to set the new fire. H This
must be q point where 1t is safe to
start a back fire, such as ROAD, nre
line, stream or swamp. The leaves
are ignited at points five feet to a
rod apart for distance not greater
than the estimated width of the head
of the fire. These small fires grad