The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-08-04
CONSERVATION OF FORESTS
Prompt Convictions for Violations of Forest
Laws-fiot Weather Danger Increase


in Washington, several more in the
other northwestern states, and such de-
cisive organized work on all fires by the
several public and private agencies
that little loss has been sustained, mark
the opening OF the 1911 forest fire
season. Advices received recently
by the Western Forestry & Conserva-
ton Association from nearly all state,
government and private protective
agencies report that the recent hot
weather has brought dangerous condi-
tions almost everywhere, and that small
fires are already numerous, but nearly
all have been extinguished or confined
to slashings and old burns. There has
been considerable loss OF settlers i'm
provements and logging equipment
carelessly left surrounded by inhamma-
BILE material, but little injury to standing
timber.
Reversing last years experience,
fires serious enough to be alarming be-
gan first in Oregon, where in Linn and
Clackamas counties about $4,000
worth of logging equipment and the
property of several settlers has been de-
stroyed by slashing fires, which were,
however, soon brought under control
by the forest service and by private
companies. Many other fires through
out the state, which caused exaggear-
ated reports, also proved to be chiefly
on open lands. Organization of the
states patrol system under the new
law is practically complete, there being
state fire wardens in twenty-five coun-
ties. Timber owners connected with
Oregon Forest Fire Association have
about two hundred and fifty patrolmen.
In response to petitions from property
owners some of the counties are also
hiring patrolmen. The state has applied
to the secretary of agriculture for S10,-
900 under the Weeks law, which
authorizes the expenditure of this sum
by the government in cooperation with
any state which will add like amount.
In Washington green timber is hard
ly dry enough to carry fire rapidly with
out strong wind, therefore the state and
association authorities are devoting
most Of their effort to reducing the
number of small fires and slashing fires
which may otherwise break out soon to
an extent overtaxing their facilities for
fighting them. Swift examples are be-
ing made OF violators. In four cases
builders OF county roads leaving in
hammable debris nave been fined; sew
eral convictions have been had for burn
ing slashings without permits; and one
or two logging companies have been
shut down for careless operation. The
only really serious fire in green timber
so far is on Green river near Hot
Springs; although slashing fires near Pc
Ell and Doty have run into the woods
a short distance, and slow burning fires
on the Toutle and Lewis rivers are re-
quiring close attention.
There has been little trouble so far
in Idaho or Montana. The timber
owners association are heavily manned
and with the forest service have made
energetic preparation ior cleaning up
hazardous places, building trails and
telephone lines and storing supplies,
SO that although lightning fires have
been frequent they have been promptly
controlled. The railroads have been
especially active in cooperating against
risk, the Milwaukee and Great North
ern lines having spent large sums in
clearing fire lanes along their rights Of
way.
Summarized, the reports show that
the recent hot weather has brought
hazardous conditions more suddenly
than is generally realized and that from
now on no fire is too insignificant to
be dangerous. Settlers, campers and
loggers are urged by the association to
take every possible precaution and to
lose no time in notifying the proper
authorities Of any fires they are unable
to extinguish quickly without aid.
Timber owners are advised to perfect
their system Of patrol and report so as
permit getting labor and supplies to
fires without delay.