The Glenwood post., 1912-04-13
FIRE FIGHTING

At the forest rangers meeting held
in Glenwood last week Elmer E. Steph-
enson read the following paper on
Fighting Forest Fires:'
1t is generally known that the forest
service has fire fighting organization,
and it is therefore unnecessary to at
tempt comprehensive description of
its field force and methods, rather that
we give more time to specific cases
which merit closer consideration, and
which will if properly adhered 10
strengthen the organization u & whole
The natural conditions among the for
ests vary to such an extent that the
application of any given system does
not necessarily apply, therefore, indi-
vidual cases must have such treatment
as their respective merits require.
AS we all know, we cannot depend
upon our superior officers for an out
line ofprocedure which will do more
than cover the general system, conse-
quently, it is up to the ranger to know
thoroughly the areas over which he has
control. He must feel that he is en-
tirely responsible for their protection,
that it will be he who must direct the
first attack against fire in any emergen
cy, that the securing of assistance,
provisions and fire fighting equipment,
and their transportation to the fire rests
entirely with him at the outbreak of
any FIRE, which time is the critical mo-
ment, as fire if taken in time with
proper handling may be checked before
serious damage is done. The most GER
tain thing about forest fire is the un
certainty of time and place, and if no
prearrangei plan has been formed for
emergencies We are at a decided disad
vantage, as it will take time to organ
ize and direct an intelligent attack,
whereas, if We have an outline or sys-
TEN for each timber area we will know
at once, just what is seemingly the best
thing to do. To do this ranger must
know thoroughly, the topography of his
district, the forest cover, the general
exposure, the available water supply,
the open ridges or broken intervals of
timbered areas where fire line may be
established by back-firing or other rap
id methods which will prevent its
spreading from one unit to another, the
trails, roads or routes by which he can
reach the area in the shortest time, and
by this do not mean general knowl-
edge of his district, but an intricate
knowledge Of each separate unit, so
that no matter where fire may orig
mate, he has but to determine its To-
cation and extent, and he then knows
what to do without delay. Then the
question of notifying all available for
est officers, and getting additional as
sistance, the latter perhaps the most
unreliable part Of organizing a success
full system, however, we can but solicit
cooperation from those interested in
the range and forest privileges, and de-
pend further on temporary labor, al
ways keeping in mind the sources from
which men are available. Then the
question Of transporting them to the
FIRE with their sustenance and equip
ment while Are-hghting. Each sugges
tion, though mentioned separately,
must work in harmony with the entire
outline, and all haste that is consistent
with efficiency must be considered.
Instrumental in the carrying out Of
this system to it, fullest value, i the
construetion Of trails 70 inaccessible