River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-09-29

est fires, these men become the
"lookouts" of the forest protection
force. Day and night they scan the
distant horizon with strong glasses,
for traces of smoke or reflected
flames. In the woods, from such an
eminence, a fire may be seen for
miles. and the first traces of it may
be detected by these lookouts long
before it would be observed from a
rangers cabin much closer to tle
scene
Suppose the Waterman sees tbs
smoke of a fire in the distance, per-
haps fifty miles away. For all prac-
tical purposes the lookouts are help
less. To cover that fifty miles in GER
tain parts of the Montana and Idaho
woods may require from four to six
days; and when they arrive at the
fire 1t has grown to proportions that
defy their efforts.
Men and Money Needed.
It is to cope with such conditions
that the forest service is asking for
more men and better organization Of
LnS lOl SoCo. AT pLSSSAL Cuo mOu OA
the hilltop stations use methods as
primitive as those Of the Indians to
flash the news of forest fire to dis
tant stations where help can be Sc
cured Often there is no telephone
at the mountain lookout station; or
no telephone connection to other
points where rangers and fire ward
ems are supposed to be on duty.
Smoke signals such as the Indians
used, made with a blanket over a
smoldering fire, or pillars of smoke
or flame from a number Of fires, con-
stitute the methods of communica-
ton used by many of the forest ranger
stations, and with which all Of the
Nen in the woods are expected to be
familiar.
The Photograph, flashing the light
of the sun; flag signals such as are
used in the army, and other systems
Of signaling, also are used. In some
places where small settlement ex-
lists near the fire lookout, a unique
means of summoning aid is used. A
small windmill is erected at the look
out station, equipped with a revolv-
ing ball in which mirrors are set at
every angle. The Waterman who dis
covers traces of q distant fire, sets
his windmill in motion If the day is
bright, and departs at once. for the
scene of the fire, secure in the knOwl-
edge that the signal will call to his
aid every man who sees the flashing
mirrors.
To get rid of the fire causes is the
first lesson taught the forest guard
ians, and the end toward which the
forest service is constantly working.
The origins of fires in the woods are
Sparks from locomotives, sparks
from sawmills and donkey engines
used in forest operations, camp fires
not properly safeguarded or extin-
guished, the burning of brush to clean
land, the burning of grass to inns
prove pasturage, carelessness OF
smokers and hunters, incendiarism
and lightning.
From the last there can be littld
protection except equipment to fight
the flames as soon as they mako
their appearance From every other
cause, however, the standing forests
of America can be fairly well pro-
tected with proper equipment and
funds.
Ways of Fighting BIazes.
The firemen of the woods learn
that the night is the best time for
their fight. The damp air retards the
progress of the blaze. A fire that will
sweep ten or twelve miles in the day
time will eat it's way slowly at night.
when there is little breeze and the
air is heavy. Then the fire fighters
attack it with all the energy they
possess, and often bring it within con-
troll.
The forest fire will burn up hill with
such rapidity that no strategy of the
fire fighters can cope with it. Sweep
ing from the bottom of a canyon, or
the foot of hill, it rushes up the
slope like hot blaze up chimney.
carrying the fire to the top in an in
credibly shSrt time. Once at the sum-
NIT of the hilA the fire burns more
slowly descending TIE other side, aid
the fire fighters have an opportunity
to dig trenches. cut fire lines and pre-
pare other defenses to head it off and
stop it.
On dry and sandy soils, on southern
and western slopes, where the ground
and trees are dry and warm, the for
est guardians know they may expect
the worst havoc of the fire. Above
all things, the character of the litter
on the ground determines the charac-
ter and severity of fire.
The source of the greatest danger
to forests is the presence of dry tops
and piles of brush left by lumbermen
and by the windfalls of heavy storms.
They constitute a standing menace
from fires, and their disposal is one Of
the things which the forest rangers
are instructed to demand anu to help
bring about. When more thorough
patrol of the forests is achieved, it
is asserted that the chief dangers of
fire will be done away with.