Evening journal., 1910-12-15
A TIMELY auLLsrlN.

At the close Of a season when forest
fires have exacted the heaviest toll In
forest wealth, buildings and human
life in many years the bulletin recently
put in print by Chief Forester Graves
is very timely, treating, as it does, oi
forest fres and the best methods Of ef
fective control. After stating that
while the conditions can never be elm
mated which make forest fires possi
BILE, they can be largely prevented ant
the damage kept down to very small
amount Mr.. Graves says:
"a careful supervision OF patrol dur
ing the dry season is one Of the most
important measures in organized for
est protection. This makes possible
carrying out one OF the most funda
mental principles in FIRE protection
namely, detecting fires and ATTACKING
them in their incipiency." After point
ing out the value Of lookouts. tele
phone and signal communication and
the several methods OF control the for
ester continues: "The principles OF
fighting forest fires are essentially the
same as those recognized in fightine
fires IN cities. the following points be
ing Of great importance: First. quick
arrival at Ere: second. an adequate
force; third, proper equipment; fourth
a thorough organization Of the fightins
crew. and. fifth. skill in attacking and
lighting the fires. The efficiency Of q
are fighting crew depends very large
~ on trs skill and experience. and
particularly on the skill and experience
OF the mnn directing the work. II Is
not only n matter Of knowing how 10
assign each man where his work will
be most effective. but judgment must
be exercised in determining the gen
eral method Of attack This will de
pend upon the character Of the forest.
the condition OF the atmosphere and
strength and direction Of the wind,
Surface fires may be extinguished by
beating. by throwing loose earth on
them and by other methods. but when
under headway the heat Is so In
tense that it is impossible to meet Il
cumstances 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 thr
sides is forced gradually and constant
ly into a narrow path. Usually tht
front can ne directed toward SOM
cleared space. stream or other fire bar
rier. This plan Of giving direction tt
a fire has often been successfully car
ried out when the fighting crew has
been too small for a direct attack. Ir
case Of fires which have gained head
way and are moving rapidly back fir
ing is often necessary. but this method
should be used only when absolutely
necessary. In such cases a pOin
should be selected In front OF the tirI
hfrom which to set the new IRE. Thii
must be a point where It Is safe t.
start a back fre. such as a road. frI
line. stream or other barrier. Tit
ledNeS Suoulu De lEulteO AT lntelNdle y
from Eve feet 10 rod covering a dis
tance not greater than the estimated
width of the head of the FIRE. The smal
fires meet and form continuous line
eating back against the wind A par
of the crew Is stationed across tn
road or other break to extinguish smal
fires started from the back fires. Thi
usually stops the head Of the main frs
when the wings can be put out in tn
ordinary manner" The bulletin cor
cludes with the statement that "a ar
is never out until the last spark is el
tinguished. as often log or snag wi
smolder unnoticed after the fame
have apparently been consumed. onl
TO break out afresh with a rising wine
After the fire fighting crew has left tn
ground it is always well to assign a
least one man to patrol the edge {
the burnt area until It is certain tbs
the fire is entirely OUT