The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-09-09
How Can Great Loss be
Prevented.
Promptness in Reaching Confla-
cation and Skill in Fighting
Very Important.

followed a spring season believed 20
have been the worst. certainly in the
Lake States. known for long time
Nor is IL wise 10 assume that the
danger is over when the fierce con-
flagratiOns 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 70
many millions Of dollars is consid-
cred certain.
How such losses may be preyen-
ted is matter Of general public
concern. To the National Forest tim
Der burned must be- adder great
amounts on state and private hold
dings, besides the immense damage
dOne 10 town. farm. and other prop
erty, Railroads have suffered from the
interruption Of traffic as we'll as from
direct loses A bulletin by Forester
Henry 5. Graves discusses forest fires
and the proper methods Of preventing
and fighting them, as follows:
In 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 inflamma-
Bile material which is very easily ig-
nited They may, however, be large
ly prevented, and under efficient or
ganization their damage may be kept
down 10 "A very small amount. The
problem is like that in cities where
fires can never be entirely eliminat-
cd, but where the risk of loss 10 pro-
perty may be reduced almost 10 in
Significance.
The Importance Of systematic pro-
vision for the early discovery OF fires
and for getting a properly equipped
force Of fire fighters quickly 20 T.
scene of an outbreak is insisted up
on by Forester Graves "A careful
supervision or patrol during the dry
SEASON. he says, "is one of the
most important measures in organized
forest protection. One Of the fun
damental principles in fire protec-
ton is 10 detect and attack fires in
their inclpiency." 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.
The principles Of fighting forest
fires are essentially the same as
those recognized in fighting fires in
fires are essentially the same as
cities. The following are OF first i'm
pOrtance: % Quick arrival at the
fire; ~ an adequate force; CD
proper equipment; 90 a thorough or
ganination of the fighting crew. and
80 skill in attacking and fighting
fires. Quick access TO fires Is ac-
complished through the work OF sup
eryision and parol in discovering
fires before they have gained much
Roadway, and by a we'll developed
system OF communication through the
forest by roads and trails.
"A small fire mey be put out by
Done man, ia extensive forests sew
cral hours may pass before the fire can
be reached. It Is important to secure
an adequate force of men and to get
them 10 the fire quickly. In we'll
organized system OF patrol the guard
who discovers a fire communicates
quickly To other guards and to head
quarters by telephone. signal, or Other
means and indicates the number OF
men he needs.
THE efficiency OF the fire-fight-
ing crew depends very largely on
their skill and experience, and par
ticularly on the skill and experience
of the man directing the work. It
is not only a question OF knowledge
OF how TO assign each man where his
work will be nose effective. but
there must be judgment exercised in
determining the general method OF
attack. The character Of the fire,
the character OF the forest. the con-
dition OF the atmosphere. the strength |
and direction OF the wind, the arpidi-
~ with which the fire is running and
many other points have TO be taken
into consideration.
After describing how surface fires
may be put out by beating. by throw
ng sand or loose earth. and by other
Methods, the account goes on:
Sometimes the front OF the fire Is