The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-14
FAST DAY FOREST FIRES
THE TWO WE'RE CO-INCIDENT
 LAST YEAR
State Forester Warns People to Be
 Careful This Season.
THE LAWS BEARING ON THE
 SUBJECT.

burned over last year on that day by sixty-three fires, with damage to tim Der, buildings and other property es- timated at about $4o,oo0. This is years, and carries warning for the holiday if drought again prevails. Fast Day followed several weeks of dry weather last year.and beat all records for heat and wind in the month Of March, with a temperature of so de- grees in some parts of the state and high wind blowing. Under such conditions burning brush and rubbish near woodland was very dangerous to business, and yet many people choose the day for that purpose.
 The bad record for that day may be laid to unusual conditions and thoughtless use of holiday. Of the sixty-three fires reported, seventeen were attributed to sparks from loco motives. but the. rest to brush burn ing, carelessness incendiarism, and un- known causes doubtless of a similar nature. The careless and criminal setting of fires by holiday pleasure seekers is difficult to control except enforcing present good laws on this subject. Last year there were four teen successful prosecutions. To en- force laws is often unpleasant for property owners as we'll as thought less pleasure seekers. but examples vitally important Mir. Spring says, that the people understand the forest laws. which follow, and their object, which is conservation of the forests: shall kindle fire upon public land. without authority. nor upon the land of another without permission of the owner thereof, or his agent.
 General Statutes 1221 Gas amended by Chapter 43, Public Acts of 1907). No rf14n ly{- another to kindle a fire in his wood land, unless all combustible materials for the space of twenty feet surround ing the place where said fire as kin dled have been removed, nor shall any such fire be left until extinguish-
 General Statutes 1922 Gas amended by Chapter 238, Section 8, Public Acts of 1905). Fires kfndled by throwing down a lighted match, cigar. or other burning substance. shall be deemed within the provisions of Sec tions 1920 and 1221, and every per- son violating any provision of said sections shall be fined not more than $500, Or imprisoned not more than six months or both.
 This year Fast Day is three weeks later than in 1910. and since much of the spring burning will be accom- plfshed, the forest fire record for the day will doubtless be lower. Dur ing the year 1910 seventy-two fires, started for the legitimate purpose of burning brush and rubbish, were re- ported as getting beyond control and doing much damage before they were extinguished. This was 8 per cent. of the total number of forest fires of was about $10,000, or per cent. of the total damage. These figures are conservative. since many fires of un- known origin were probably due to this cause. The damage, moreover, is based almost entirely on present values and takes no account of loss in future returns or the Injury fires do to forest soils.
 Brush fires are very evident souce of depreciation in forest property might be almost wholly prevented by proper measures. The General Assembly of 1909, recognizing this fact, enacted Section 4, Chapter 12S, Plblic Acts of 1909:
 Every person, except as hereinafter provided. who shall kindIe or author ize another to kindle a fire. in the open air, outside the limits of any city, borough, or land controlled by any railroad company, for the pur- pose of burning bushes, weeds, grass. or rubbish of any kind, between the fifteenth day of March and the first day of June, and the fifteenth day Of September and the fifteenth day of November, in any year, without first obtaining from the fire warden of the district written permission stating when and where such fire may be kim dled. shall be fined not more than $20O, or imprisoned not more than six months, or both
 Cities and boroughs are executed because of local fire fighting organiza- kindling of fires. Railroads are held specifically liable for damage to a5- joining property under previous acts and have to burn over the right of way as protective measure, employ ing an organized force of men for the purpose. The intent of the permit law is not to impose a hardship on any one, but to give the forest fire wardeps control over private acts which are often performed under con- ditions harmful to the public well fare. It's enforcement should mean a general recognition of the need for greater precaution in starting fires When an individual secures a permit. the warden has an opportunity to call attention to the laws which hold him both criminally and civilly liable for any damage that may result a responsibility from which the permit in no way relieves the holder To ensure safety he may also specify cer- tain conditions with which the appli- cant must comply, such as ploying furrows around the fire having suf- ficient help at hand to control the fire, etc. A warden may refuse to issue any permits if the weather remains very dry and windy, or to revoke a permit already issued if conditions make a fire particularly hazardous at the time indicated in the permit Such action is for the best interests of the permit holders as we'll as the public at large.
 The whole matter is one of co-op- eration between the individual and the fire warden for the purpose of re- ducing damage to property from for est fires and the expense of extin- gushing them. When, in addition to the expense of fire fighting, the loss in property value is considered, CO., operation which will tend to prevent forest fires seems @ most desirable thing for taxpayers. MT. Sperry says that every public spirited citizen. whether an owner of woodland or not, should cooperate with his local fire warden in this matter of securing permits, thereby recognizing his own responsibility and rendering the fire warden's duty less burdensome. Hay ing thus accepted his responsibtltty it is plain common sense to take all possible precautions to keep his fires within control. In many cases it is wholly unnecessary to burn brush or rubbish in a dry, dangerous season. If brush must be burned it is above all important that people realize the possible dangers and use judgment in the selection of a day and do nor hrl1gh 9 windy dow