The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-09-04
~ SIDNEY EsPEv.

Ov 0sOWSp eOS6Ss
Washington. Sept 3.-Convinced
that when forest IRE 10 fairly started
and with weather and other conditions
favoring 1t is 10 beyond the power Of
man to stop 1t. the governments meth
cd of dealing with fires in Its vast do
mains, particularly in the wilds of
the west is to prevent them as far as
possible. In this connection the old
adage about an ounce OF prevention
being worth a pound Of cure 10 partic-
ularly impressive.
That nothing but heavy rains and
the dying down of the winds will
check a forest Are when II has gained
great Roadway 10 eviden. from the
fires which recently have been raging
through the west. That forest fires
are not more frequent and more dis
astrous is due to the never ceasing
diligence of the forestry service Of
the department Of agriculture in pre-
venting fires while in an incipient
stage from spreading. BY means Of
an efficient patrol system email fires
are quickly detected. and unless the
elements are too strongly in their ia
vor they are extinguished by the
rangers before they spread to any
great extent, and before any particu-
lar damage 10 done.
Chief Forester Graves contends that
the principles of hghting forest fires
are essentially the same as those
recognised In fighting fires in cities.
He considers OF chief importance the
quick arrival Of IRE fighters at the fire
an adequate force. proper equipment.
q proper organization Of the fighting
crew, and skill in attacking the flame.
Just as in city the efficiency Of IRE
service depends largely on the equip
ment, 30, also, In the forest fire work
1t is essential that the fighters be fur
nished with proper tools and other
equipment.
The implements needed for Aght-
ing forest fires vary under different
conditions. Whenever dirt can be
used the men are provided with long
handled shovels. II water is avail
able. buckets are provided. and
possible. bucket pumps. Under most
conditions 1t 10 considered desirable
to have mattocks and iron rakes.
and there should always be axes to
aid In clearing the brush by cutting
down timber and old tops.
There are three classes of fires;
surface fires. ground ores and crown
fires. Surface fires burn the layer of
dry leaves and other litter, dry grass.
brush and small trees. Ground fires
occur where the mineral soil Is COW
cred with deep accumulation of veg
etable mold. These on account of the
peaty character of the material burn
more slowly than surface Ares. Crown
fires are those which burn through
the crowns of the trees, and invariably
start from surface fires.
The damage done by forest fires is
varied. Some of the results are
death to standing trees; injury to
trees that are not killed; injury to
soil; reduction of the rate of growth
Of the standing trees, and lessening of
the reproduction of trees.
Careless smokers and campers leav.
ing lighted camp fires are the prin-
cipal causes OF fqSest fires. Sparks
from locomotives and saw mills often
originate blazes. In manay instances
serious Ares have been known to have
originated from incendiarism and
lightning. In the case of the recent
western fires. the forest service has
been advised that much of the spread
IL due to incendiarism.
Chief Forester Graves believes
that the organization OF an adequate
forest patrol for protection denotes
the establishment of such conditions
that the chance Of a fire are reduced
to a minimum. Among the measures
variously used to accomplish this are
disposal OF roads. trails and fire lines
and the establishment of lookout sta
tons and telephone lines.
| 1t Is frequently the case that the
subordinates of the federal depart
ments in Washington Judge the ability
and strength of their respective de-