The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-09-08
rules FOR f|CHT'
ing FOREST ElRES
Especial to the Silver State.)

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 long time. Nor is it wise
to assume that the danger is over when
the fierce conflagrations 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 fains and
SHOWS have once more made 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 snch losses may be; prevented is
a matter Of general hab3ie concern. To
the national forest timber burned must
be added great amounts ION state and
private holdings, besides the immense
damage done to tow farm and other
property. Railroads have suffered from
the interruption of traffic as well as
direct losses. A bulletin by Forester
Henry s. Graves discusses forest fires
and the proper methodsaof preventing
and fighting them, as follows:
SIN some, sections ofisthe country
forest fires have always, been of such
common occurrence that there rs a
popular notion that they can not be
prevented. The risk from fires can
never be entirely eliminated, for in the
forest there highways inflamAiabIe ma
terial. which is very easily ignited.
They may, however, be largely pre-
vented, and under efficient organiza-
tion 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 res
duced to insignificance.
The Importance of systematic pro-
vision for the early discovery of fires
and for getting properly equipped
force of fire fighters quickly to the
scene of an outbreak is insisted upon
by Forester Graves. "a ear rlful su-
pervisieas or patrol during the dry sea.
son, h says, 8 is one of the most i'm
potantE Aeasures in organizing o,esr
protection. One of the fundamental
principles in fire protectson,is to detect
and attack fires inv their-incipieney. -
.AfteL- pointing. put thess-yalue of look
outs. telephone orssignal communication
and various methods of rpatrol. the
fows:
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:
az Quick arrival at the fire; (2) an
adequate force; (3) proper equipment
(4) thorough organization Of the
fighting crew and (5) skill in attack.
ing and fghting fires. Quick access to
fires is accomplished through the work
of supervisors and patrol in discovering
fires before they, have gained much
headway. and by a well-developed sysl
ten of communication through the for
est by roads and trails. II ~
"a small fire may lie put out by one
man, but in extensive forests several
hours may pass before TIE fire can be
reached. 1t issimBprtant 10 Secure an
adequate force Of men- and to get them
10 the fire quickly. In a well-organizeo
system of patrol the guard who dis
covers fire communicates quickly to
other guards and to. headquarters bv
telenhone. signal. or other means. and
irt'icates the number Of men he needs
1.-THE efficiency: ofs the, fire fighting
crew depends. very largely on their
skiD and experience and particularly or
the skin and experience Of the man
directing the work .ftsis not only a
question ofa Acknowledgment how TO as
s'gn each man where his work will bt
ost effective but there must be judg
inert exercised in determining the gen
eral method of attack The character
If the fire. the character of the forest
TIE cordition of the. atmosphere. tn,
strength and direction of the wind. thu
rapidi{y wifi which the fire is run
ring and many other points have to b.
taken intas consideration. 50
liter describing how surface fires
may be put out by beating by throwing
sand or loose earth, and by sothe
methods, the account goes on:
Something's the front Of the fire Il
SO fierce that it is impossible to NEE
II directly. One method under such cir
cumstances is to direct the course o.
the fire.. The attack is made on tn,
sides near. the front. separating the for
ward portion of the fire from the man
wings, part of the crew attacks tn
forward part and others run down ar
extinguish the: wings. The front of tn
fire, attacked from the sides, is force,
gradually and consistently into a mar
rover path. Usually the front can b
directed toward some cleared space
road pond, stream swamp, or fire line
when it will. be checked enough t.
init. of a. direct front attack. Sometime
by this plan the front may be randi
narrowed by workings'from the sides
until tits at last entirely extinguishet
The plan of giving direction to tn
course of the fire has often been su,
cssfully carried out when the fghtin
crew is too small for direct attack
r. -" When fires gain sneh Roadway tina
it is impossible to stop them by direc
attack, no matter how numerous an
efficient the cr,wvor complete the equil
!" ment' fog fight 'ag, back firing becom,
,sthe only, imeaks Of stepping the fir
1t should. however, he used only whe
it is. absolutely necessary One of .tl
commonest mistakes in fighting fires
to bverestimatef the rapiditv of the fl
and the dif1iculty of putting it out
forest fire n always frightening spe
tacle particularly If it is sweeping
the direction of one Is ttwn propert
Men. often become excited and sta
hack Ares when it ID entirelyy o