The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-09-09

50 fierce that IL Is impossible TO
meet II directly. One method under
sur; circumstance is 10 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 exdnguish the
wings. The front Of the fire, attacked
from the sides. is forced gradually
and constantly into a narrower path
Usually the front can be directed to-
ward some cleared space, road, pond.
stream, swamp, or fire line, when
IL will be checked enough to admit
of a direct front attack. Sometimes
By this plan the front may be rap
idly narrowed by working from the
sides, until it is at last entirely ex-
tinguished. The plan Of giving d.
rection TO the course Of the fire has
often been successfully carried out
when the fighting crew is too small
for a direct attack.
When fires gain such Roadway
that il is impossibles % stop them by
direct attack. no matter how numer-
Gus ard efficient the crew or COM
ple;e the equipment for fighting back
firing become the only means of stop
ping the fire. Il should, however, be
used only when it is absolutely nee
essary. One OF the commOnest mis-
takes in fighting fires is 70 oyeres-
innate the rapidly Of the fire and the
difficulty of putting it out A forest
fire is always a frightening specta-
Gle, particularly II il is sweeping in
the direction OF ones Owr property.
Men often become excited and start
back fires when II is entirely unnec-
essary. Back firing necessarily in
wolves deliberately burning over pro-
perty. When this belongs 10 another
person and ones own forest seems in
danger. there is a great temptation TO
sacrifice il.
II it Is found that bach fire is
necessary, a favorable point is Sc
lected directly IN front Of the fire,
from which u set the new fire. This
must be a point where IL is safe 70
start a back fire, such as a road.
fire line, stream, or swamp. The
leaves are igrited az points five 10 a
rod apart for a distance not greater
than the estimated width of the head
OF the fire. These small fires gradu-
ally meet and form a continuous line,
eating back against the wind. A part
Of the crew is stationed across the
road or other break from which the
back fire is started and put out at
once the small fires which may result
from the sparks blown over from the
back fire.
The meeting Of the two fires stops
al once the head OF the main fire.
It is usually possible then to attack
the wings with the ordinary methods
OF fighting 1t is necessary to at
tack the wings az once, particularly
If there is a strong wind, for other
wise each wing of the old fire would
soon form an independent fire with
well-deyeloped head. II is neces-
sary, also, that a number Of men be
stationed whore the original fire and
the back fire meet in order to ex-
tiEguish smoldering fires in tops,
logs, and other debris
"A fire is never out the bulletin
concludes until the last spark is
extinguished. Often a log or snag
will shoulder unnOtlced after the flame
have apparently been conquered, only
TO break out afresh with a rising wind
After the fire-fighting crew has left
the ground it is always well to as
sign at least one man 20 patrol the
edges of the burned area until il is
certain that the fire is entirely out.
This may not be for several days"