The Greeley tribune., 1910-09-22
LOSS VERY HEAVY
TO COUNTRY FROM
BIG FOREST FIRES
Especial TO the TrIhnn,,

| riCultural are OF the 0UiUf,n thot
1910 will hold the record among
many years for the severity Of tho
losses from forest fires The summer |
fires followed a spring season he
lieved to have been the worst cor
tainly in the lake states. known for
a long time. Nor is it wise to as
sumo that the danger is over when
the fierce conilagraJlon5 which have
called forth in the mountain states
the efforts of three federal depart-
ments have been conquered. The
forests will not be safe until the fan
rains and SHOWS have once more
made wet blanket of the dry for
est floor. That the total losses of
the year will run up to many mil
lions of dollars is considered GER
tain.
How such losses may be prevented
is matter of general public con-
cern. To the national forest tim
ber burned mus bu added great
amounts of state and private hold
ings, besides the immense damage
done to town, farm and other prop
erty Railroads have suffered from
the interruption Of traffic as well as
from direct losses. A bulletin by
Forester Henry S Graves discusses
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 infam-
mable material which is very easily
ignited. They may, however, be
largely prevented, and under efic-
lent organization their damage may
be kept down to a very small
amount. The problem is like that in
cities. where fires can never be en-
tirely eliminated but where the
risk of loss to property may be re-
duced almost to insignificance.
A small fire may be put out by
one man. but in extensive forests
several hours may pass before the
fire can be reached 1t is important
to secure an adequate force OF men
and to get then TO the fire quickly.
In well organized system of patrol
the guard who discovers a fire COM
municates quietly to other guards
and to headquarters by telephone.
signal. or other means, and indi-
Gates the number of men he needs
After descrihing 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 thai it is impossible to
meet it directly One method under
such CIRCUMSTANCES is to direct thu
course of the IRE. The attack i,
made on the sides near the front
separating The forward portion o.
the fire from the main wings. A par
and the others run down and extin-
guish the wings. The front of the
fire. attacked from the sides, is fore
ed gradually and constantly into {
narrower path, Usually the front
can be directed toward some cleared
space. road pond, stream. swamp, oil
fire line. when 1t will be checked
enough to admit of direct front at
tack. Sometimes by this plan the
front may be rapidly narrowed by
working from the sides. until it is al
last entirely extinguished The plar
of giving direction to the course o1
the fire has often been successful,
carried out when the fighting crew
is too small for a direct attack.
When fires gain such headwaS
that it is impossible to stop them by
direct attack. no matter how numer-
ous and efficient the crew or com
plete the equipment for fighting
back firing becomes the only means
OF stopping the fire. It should
however be used only when it is alb
solutely necessary. One of the COM
mor,s mistakes In fighting fires is
to over estimate the rapidity of the
fire and the difficulty of putting il
out. A forest fire is always fright
ening spectacle. particularly If it is
sweeping in the direction of ones
own property. Men often become
excited and start back fires when il
is entirely unnecessary. Back firms
necessarily involves deliberately
burning over property When this
belongs to another person and ones
own forest seems in danger, there
is great temptation to sacrifice 1t,
If 1t is found that a back fire is
necessary favorable point is Sc
lected directly In front of the fire.
from which to set the new fire. This
must be point where 1t is safe to
start n back fire. such as road. fire
line. stream. or swamp. The leaves
are icnited Mt points five feet to a
rod apart for distance not greater
than the estimated width of the head
| - A.. g., Tho0o avno II Rrac yrn n1Ii-