The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-09-16

the forest, the condition of the at
mosphere; the strength and direction
of the wind, the rapidity with which
the fire is running, and many other
points have to be taken into consid-
Grafton"
After describing 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 that it is impossible to
meet it directly. One method under
such circumstances is to direct the
course of the fire. The attack is
made on sides near the front, separat-
ing the forward portion of the fire
from the main wings. A part Of the
crew attacks the forward part and
others run down and extinguish 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 it
will be checked enough to admit of a
direct front attack. Sometimes by
this plan the front may be rapidly
narrowed by working from the sides,
until it is at last entirely extin-
guished. The plan of giving direc-
tion to the course Of the fire has Of
ten been successfully carried out
when the fighting crew is too small
for a direct attack.
'When fires gain such Roadway
that it is impossible to stop them by
direct attack, no matter how mum
erous and efficient the crew or COM
plete the equipment for fighting,
back firing becomes the only means
of stopping the fire. 1t should. how
ever, be used only whenit is absolute
ly necessary. One of the commonest
mistakes in fighting fires is to over
estimate the rapidity of the fire and
the difficulty Of putting it out. A
forest fire is always a frightening
spectacle, particularly if it is sweep.
ing in the direction of ones own
property. Men often become excited
and start back fires when it is en-
tirely unnecessary. Back firing neces.
sarily involves deliberately burning
over property. When this belongs to
another person and ones w forest
seems in danger, there is a great
temptation to sacrifice it.
eff it is found that a back fire is
necessary, a favorably point is selected
directly in front of the fire, from
which to set the new fire. This must
be a point where it is safe to start a
back fire, such as a road, fire line,
stream or swamp. The leaves are
ignited at points five feet to a rod
apart for a distance not greater than
the estimated width of the head OF
the fire. These small fires gradually
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
at once the head of the main fire. 1t
is usually possible then to attack the
wings with the ordinary methods OF
fighting. 1t is necessary to attack
the wings at once, particularly il
there is a strong wind, for otherwise
each wing of the old fire would soon
form an independent fire with a well.
developed head. 1t is necessary also,
that a number of men be stationed
where the original fire and back fire
meet in order to extinguished smol,
dering fires in tops, logs and other
debris"
"a fire is never OUT" the bulletin
concludes, until the last spark is ex'
tinguished. Often a log or snag viii
smolder unnoticed after the flames
have apparently been conquered, only
to break out afresh with a rising
wind. After the tire-tighting crew
has left the ground it is always well
to assign at least one man to patrol
the edges of the burned area until it
is certain that the fire is entirely out.
This may not be for several days"
Conservation Congress
The week ending September 10 was
made notable by the Conservation
| Gonurosc hold at CT Donl In xubich