Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-01-23
FIRE RECORD ON THE
COCONINO IN 1871
GRATIFYING
National Forest in Northern
Arizona, Policy Of Which is
Directed From Albuquer-
que, is in Good Shape,

Gratifying 20 the officers OF the third
district Of ihe United states forest
service IN Albuquerque 80 the report
OF the fire losses on the COcOniEo
national lOreii In Arizona during 1911.
Tho losses arc far below these of
former years and the fire fighting
equipment is efficient ana complete;
handled by men who are alive TO
their work. Regarding the record
FOR the wear the CoconinO Sun OF
Flagsian says:
The supervisor and rangers on rho
Coconino national forest are especial
~ pleased ON account OF the excellent
Gre record of the past year which
they consider the best TIA the effective
ness of the protection given of any
reason I'm recent years. During the
entire year tho total area burned over
was only 47ui acres, or twotenths OF
Que por cent of the total area OF the
forest twenty-five fires we're dis
covered hat 20 per cent OF them were
Put out before they burned over one
acre The area OF the average burn
was ISIS acres.
The largest fire of the year was AZ
Daney Park, cast of the San Francisco
mountains and burned over less than
2 900 acros. OF which only 100 acres
was timb0rod land, the rest being open
park
After the bad fire season OF 1910 all
national forest officers bent their en-
orgies ON the deyising Of new and bet
ter methods of fire protection, hasing
their efforts largely on the experience
gained under the severcst test TO
which the forest service has ever been
subjected u was realized that eff
cient FIRE protection could he gained
only after careful previous planning
90 meet al possible contingencies.
While the favorable season helped
10 a considerable extent TO lessen the
danger or fires. the forest officers are
confident that a great step has been
made ln the direction of more COM
plete organization OF the protective
work and that the promptness with
which the fires of this year were dis
covered and pat ont is 20 a great
extent responsible for the good show.
I ing made.
The improvements made In the pro-
tectlye system were mainly along the
/ lire OF better telephone communiCa-
/ ton q well defined system OF lookOuts
connected by telephones fer the de-
/ lection OF fires and q wider knowledge
among residents and users OF he for
rs; of the danger and damage OF fire
and The necessity of prompt action Ia
as cases.
The Coconlno national forest Is d.
vided into five districts. eGch Of which
is Ia charge or ranger and one or
more aani eta~fs Tho greatest pro-
tsctiun 1 rvtr--TD 1uu~r- districts
where IRE had occurred moro fire.
qucntly IN tine past and whore on ac-
count of Inc topography and valuable
timber stands there vas the greatest
danger OF serious fires Because OF
the opoeraphy OF the forest the sys-
tenn Og lookout patrol was deemed
more effective than any system OF rid
ing patrol Bakers Butte and Woody
Mountain were chosen as the primary
lookouu at which men wore stationed
at all times. Secondary lookout points
were established in each ranger dis
lrict, and the Ere plan provided that
they be visited each day hy the ranger
/ in charge or his assistant. The look
outs had direct telephone connection
with the supervisors Office so that
quick communication was assured
/ In Immediately reporting the occur
renee Of fires and the progress which
was made la putting them out
/ The campaign OF spreading infOr-
Z nation in regard 10 the danger and
damage Of fires and the necessity OF
lputing them out promptly produced
most excellent results and the resi-
dents ana users OF the Coconino ma.
Itional forest have the slncerest thanks
/ Of the supervisor and the rangers on
the forest for the pTomptness wish
: which they furnished assistance need
/ od Ia putting out fires The A. H. q
3. f. Co, in accordance with iis
agreement with the forest service, no
tinod The forest supervisor OF az hrcR
which were seen by itB engineers and
conductors a. the trains we're passing
through the forest The agreement
requires that the section men fight an
fires that aoccur 90 or near Che right
of way but fortunately no fires start.
cd in or near the right of way during
The past year.