Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1912-05-03
FOREST FIRE BULLETIN
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS IN ERROR
NEW LAW BECAME EFFECTIVE
<.-..s - f. ~, IN 1911. ..'2.:.::

Many township officers throughout
the state seem to be under misap->
pEehension as to the Forest law now in
effect. A number evidently still believe
themselves to be authorized fire war
dens, as under the old Forest law. Ac-
cordingly they have this spring signed
claims for fire fighting and sent them
to the state forester. Under the new
law this is no longer part of town
ship officer g duty. For the benefit Of
any who are still misinformed, the FOL-
lowing explanation is made Of the true
situation. '> 80 ..
The new Forest law, made effective
in 1911, repealed the former law under
which; township supervisors had been
fire Wardens. Soon after the new law
went into effect all township supe1vis~
ors who formerly had been fire .wardeav
were notified by mail that they were non
longer authorized to expend state.
money in fire protection work. Under
the new law, that area of the state
where dangerous fires are most apt to-
occur has been divided into severals
large districts. A, district forest ranger:
has been placed in charge Of each dis
trict. Under each district ranger, duTs-
ing the fire season, are several PATROL
men. District 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 officsaD
to Cooperate with the: officers of the
state forest service. The former are IT,
CURED to look to it that conditions IN
der their jurisdiction are such as to- re-
duce the fire danger. They will be. as
sited by the forest officers in scouting.
safer conditions. Local town and Seity
officials should inform them Of my
condition which constitutes serious
fire danger, when they will take tie
necessary steps to remove the danger.
Local officials should notify some for
too dangerous for any 1eighborhood TO-
on such a dangerous fire, where timber
and other property and life are at
stake, that forest officer calls out
men. In such case the fire fighters, WIN
be paid except only that no man H.
paid for fighting fire within one mile
Of his own residence. The latter is true
III any Case Ii uO case Will D. mau U6
paid by the state for fighting
fire unless called out by or I'M
der the authority Of commits
stoned forest service officer. This
is because the law expects a man to pro-
tect his own property and that Of his
neighbors without remuneration from
the state. Also, the law, Section "a, re-
quires that township and city organf1a-
tions assume the responsibility for
such fires as may be easily extinguish-
ed or are not q menace to life, or Ito
property in considerable extent. This
statement applies to any township
situated within the established ranger
districts, where the fire danger is great
est. It is equally true for such towns
as are not Included in the establishes
ranger districts and where the fire dan
ger to life and property is not con-
sidered to be great. However, should a
serious fire occur in any township, in
formation should be sent at once by the
local officials to the state forester. A
forest officer can then be sent to the
place to investigate and take what
steps are necessary.
Township officers are no longer
authorized to cooperate with the forest
service, as indicated in sections 10 and
"a of the forest law in preventing and
controlling fires. They may be held re-
sponsible for not doing so.