The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-09-15
FIGHTING FOREST FIRES.
Record Of Loss in 1910 VIII surpass That
Of Many Years

Of the Y. ). department of agriculture
are Of the opinion that 1910 will hold
the record among many years for the
severity of the losses from forest fires
The summer fires followed a spring sea.
son believed to have been the worss
certainly in the lake states, known for
a long time Nor is Il wise to assume
that the danger is over when the fierce
CONGREGATIONS which have called forth
IN the mountain states the efforts 81
three federal departments have been con-
quefed. The forests viii not be safe un.
oil the fall rains and SHOWS have once
more made a wet blanket OF the dry fir.
est floor. That the total losses Of the
year will run mp to many millions Of
dollars Is considered certain
How such losses may be prevented Is q
matter Of general public concern To the
national forest timber burned must be
added great amounts on state and private
holdings, besides tic immense damage
done to town, farm and other property.
Railroads have suffered from the inter-
uption 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 fight
ing them, as followss-
In some sections Of the country. for
est fires have always been Of such com.
mon occurrence that there IS a popular
notion that they cannot be prevented.
The risk from fires can never b. entirely
eliminated, for IN the forest There Is AZ
ways indamnable material. which IS very
easily ignited Tbs may, however. oe
largely prevented. and under Efficient or
ganization their damage may be kept
down 70 a very small amount The prob
lem IS like chat ia cities. where fires can
never be entirely eliminated, bnt where
the risk Of loss 70 property may be re-
dueed almost % inslgnilleance."
The Importance 81 systematic provision
for the early discovery Of dges and for
getting a properly equipped force Of Gre
fighters quickly Is tho scene Of an out
bleak is insisted upon 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 funda-
mental principles ia FIRE protection Is to
detect and attack fires IN their ineipien
cy" After pointing out the value Of
lookonts. telephone or signal communica
tion and various methods 81 patrol the
forester tells how to fight fires, a. fol-
lows.--
The principle. Of lighting forest fires
are essentially the same a. those recog
uized in fighting fires ia cities. Tie fol-
lowing are Of first Importance: on
Quick arrival &C the FIRE; III an adequate
force; 90 proper equipment; til a thor
ough organization Of the Sighting crew
and l5 skin in attacking and fighting
fires Quick access TO fires = accom-
plished through the work Of supervision
ana patrol I'd discovering fires before they
have gained much Roadway. and b.
system Of communication
through the forest by roads and traits
"A small Gre may be pat out by one
man. but in extensive forests several
hours may pass before the Gre can be
reached II + important 10 secure am
adequate force Of men and TO get them 70
the fire quickly IN a well.orgauiaed sys
tenn 81 patrol the gaanl who discovers
D FIRE communicates quickly 70 other
guards and to headquarters BY telephone,
signal or oiner r .,s nsa.9la Indicates ihe
TIE efficiency Of tie iife.fehting crew
depends very largely on their skill and
experience and particularly on the skill
md experience Of tie man directing the
work Il is not only a question Of
knowledge Of hcw 70 assign each man
whore his work wili be most effective.
mt there must be Judgment exercised In /
lermininE the general method Of at
ack. Ih character I'll the fire, the char I
leter Of the forest, tie coniition 81 the +
the strength and direction Of +
lie wind the rapidity with which the /
ire Is running, and many other points 4
lave TO be taken into consideration
After describing how surface fires may
'e put out By beating. by throwing sand /
II loose eafta, and BY other metbods,
he account goes on:
Some times the front uf the fire Is
o fierce that it IS Impossible to meet
[ directly. One method under such
is 10 direct the course 81
he IRE. The attack Is made on the
ides near the front, separating the for.
gard portion Of the fire from the main
wings A part Of tie crew attacks the
onward part and Others run down and
xtiheuish the wings The front Of the
he, attacked from the sides. Is forced
radually and constantly into a narrower
ath. Usually the front can be directed
oward some cleared space, road. pond,
tream swamp or fire line, when 1t will
e checked enough 70 admit Of a direct
-ont attack Sometimes, hy this plan.
lie front may be rapidly narrowed by
Isl entirely extinguislied The plan Of
wing direction to the course Of the fire
as often been successfully carried out
hen the fighting crew is too small for
direct attack
When fires gain such headway that
IS impossible TO stop them by direct
tack, no matter how numerous ana eff
rient the crew or complete the equip.
ent for fighting. hack firing becomes
ie only means of stopping the fire. It
lould, however. be used only when If Is
osolutely necessary Ore 81 the com
onest mistakes in fighting fires is to
'er.estiinate the rapidity Of Che fire and
ie difficulty Of putting 1t aut. A forest
e il always frightening spectacle,
lrtieularly ii It is sweeping III the direc
on Of ones own property Men often
come excited and start back fires when
is entirely unnecessar Back firing
'eessapily involves deliberately burning
-er property. When tbs belongs to
lothep person and ones own forest
ems in danger, there Is great tempta .
on to sacrifice it.
III it is found that back FIRE is /
cesary a favorable point is selected
rectly IN front Of the Are. from which
set the new fire This must be
int where it IS safe to start back fire, :
eh ~ A r0ad hra line efreatn ~