Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1912-05-02
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS IN ERROR

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS IN ERROR.
MINI. Forest Service News Bulletin
No. 4
Many township officers thruout the
state seem to be under misappre-
hension as to the Forest Law now in
effect. A number evidently still be-
lieve themselves to be authorized fire
wardens, as under the old Forest Law.
Accordingly they have this spring
signed claims for fire fighting and
sent them to the State Froester. I'm
der the new Law this is no longer a
part of township officers duty. For
the benefit Of any who are still. misin.
formed, the following explanation is
made of the true situation.
The new Forest Law, made effective
in 1911, repealed the former Law un-
der which township supervisors had
been fire wardens. Soon after the
new Law went into effect all township
supervisors who formerly had been
fire wardens were notified by mail
that they were no longer authorized.
to expend state money in fire protec-
tion work. Under the new Law, that
area of the State where dangerous
fires are most apt to occur has been
divided into several large districts. A
District Forest Ranger has been plac-
ed in charge of each district. Under
each district ranger, during the f1e
season, are several patrolmen. Dis
trict Rangers and patrolmen, paid
through the State Forest Service, are
the only men with direct authority to
expend State Funds in fire protection
work
However, under the new law it is
the duty of all township and city Of
ficers to cooperate with the officers
of the state forest service. The for
mer are required to look to it that
conditions under their jurisdiction are
such as to reduce the fire danger.
They will be assisted by the Forest
Officers in. securing safer conditions.
Local town and city officials should
inform them of any condition which
constitutes a serious fire danger,
when. they will take the necessary
steps to remove the danger. Local
officials should notify some Forest Of
ficer of any fire which may be too
dangerous for any neighborhood to
handle without additional aid. It is
only on such a dangerous fire, where
timber and other property and life
are at stake, that a Forest Officer
calls out men. In such case the fire
| fighters will be paid except only that
no man is paid for fighting fire with
in one mile of his own residence. The
latter is true in any case. In no case
will a man be paid by the State for
fighting fire unless called out by or
under the authority of commission
ed Forest Service Officer. This is
because the Law expects a man to
protect his own property and that Of
his close neighbors without remuner-
alton from the state. Also, the Law,
section "a, requires that township and
city organizations assume the respon-
sibility for such fires as may, be cas-
lily extinguished or are not menace
to life, or to property in considerable
extent. This statement applies to
any township situated within the es-
tablished Ranger Districts, where the
fire danger is greatest. It is equally
true for such towns as are not inclu-
ded in the established Ranger Dis
tricts and where the fire danger to life
and property is not considered to be
great. However should a serious fire
occur in any such township, informa-
ton should be sent at once by the To-
cal officials to the State Forester. A
Forest Officer can then be sent to the
Eplace to investigate and take what
steps are necessary.
| Township Officers are no longer au-
lthorized to incur expense for the
Estate in fire protection. But they
Iare required to cooperate with the
Forest Service, as indicated in Sec
tions 19 and "a of the Forest Law in
preventing and controlling fires. They
may be held responsible for not doing
| The Sick Man at Argyle
The sick man at the helm Of the