The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-09-16

sides the immense dam. &c done t.
town, farm, and other property. Rail
roads have suffered from the inter
ruption of traffic as well as from di
rect losses. A bulletin by Foreste
Henry s. Graves discusses forest fire
and the proper methods of preventing
and fighting them, as follows:
THE principles of fighting fores
fires are essentially the same as thos,
recognized in fighting fires in cities
The following are of first Importance
ca. Quick arrival at the fire; G.,
an adequate force; g. proper equip
ment; (4 thorough organization
of the fighting crew, and (5) skill il
attacking and fighting fires. Quicl
access to fires sis accomplished
through the work of supervision ant
patrol in discovering fires before they
have gained much Roadway, and by
well developed sfstem of communi
cation through the forest by roads and
trails.
"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 tc
secure an adequate force of men and
to get them to the fire quickly. In 9
well-organized system of patrol the
guard who discovers a fire communi.
Gates quickly to other guards and to
headquarters by telephone, signal
or other means, and indicates the
number of men he needs.
"The efficiency of the fire-fghting
crew depends very largely on their
skill and experience, and particular
ly on the skill and experience of the
man directing the work. 1t is not
only qeustion of knowledge of how
to assign each man where his work
will be most effective, but there must
be judgment exercised in determining
the general method of attack. The
character of the fire, the character of
the frost, the condition of the atmos-
phere, the strength and direction of
the wind, the rapidity with which the
fire is running, and many other points
have to be taken into consideration -
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
1t directly. One method under such
is to 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 at
tacks the forward part and others run
down and extinguish the wings. The
front of the fire, attacked from the
sides, is forced gradually and con-
stantly into narrower path. Usual
ly the front can be directed toward
some cleared space, road, pond,
stream, swamp, or fire line, when it
will be checked enough to admit of
4 direct front attack. Sometimes by
his plan the front may be rapidly
narrowed by working from the sides,
init lit is at last entirely extinguish-
ID. The plan of giving direction to
he course of the fire has often been
carried out when the
lighting crew is too small for direct
lttack.
when fires gain such Roadway
hat 1t is impossible to stop them by
lirect attack, no matter how numer
'us and efficient the crew or COM
'lete the equipment for nghting, back
lring becomes the only means Of
the fire. It should, however,
e used only when it is absolutely ne
essary. One of the commonest mis-
axes in fighting fires is to overesti-
nate the rapidity of the fire and the
ifficulty Of putting it out. A forest
re is always frightening spectacle,
articularly If it is sweeping in the |
ERECTION of ones own property. Men
ften become excited and start back |
res when 1t is entirely unnecessary.
lack firing necessarily involves de-
berately burning over property. |
When this belongs to another person
nd ones own forest seems in dan
er, there is a great temptation to
acrifice 1t.
IF 1t is found that back fire is
=