Charlevoix county herald., 1913-05-03
A Menace
No Longer
Forest Fire Department Ready
For Another Season of For
est Fire Prevention Work

arrangements for another aggressive
campaign against the destruction OF
their properties by Forest Fires, be-
ginning with the first signs Of dry
weather in April.
| During the summer season of 1912
they maintained an organized patrol
system having In the field eleven
mounted rangers aud Chief Fire
Walden with headquarters at Cav
lord, the County seat of Otsego Coun-
ty. Gaylord being selected us 1t is the
geographical center of the Forest fire
situation in Lower Michigan. The
Association controls trifie less than
one half million acres Of timber land
However their system of patrol Is a
liberal one and covers one million one
hundred Thousand acres of timber,
brush and plain lands.
In order To make the patrol system
as effective as possible, the Manufac-
turers' Assn have purchased an
automobile for their chief warden,
thus enabling him TO keep in close
touch with all sections OF his territory
and aiding him in inspecting the
work of his various wardens at seas
ons when he can leave his office. The
department Is sparing no expense in
raising the standard OF their patrol
system TO the highest efficiency.
1t has been proved that careful and
painstak,ng patrol OF given area is
OF great value in discovering and con-
fact IL small fires are cared for we
will not have large ones. All Of the
large destructive fires OF the past, had
they been attended to by all organized
effGrt none OF the calamities would
have happened which befell many 10
cslities, burning homes, towns, and
taking human lives, leaving large
areas blackened and desoate waste.
1t was thought at one time that
Forest Fires could not be prevented.
The reason for this conclusion was the
nobOdies business" and while one
person was awaiting for another to
take action the merciIess ever con-
suming flames were steadily creeping
forward until finally sweeping con-
flagratiOn was the result, However,
this condition is thing ol The past.
Private owners realizing the terrific
losses they were subjected TO each
year, formed cooperative plan for
the suppression Of fires which we are
pleased TO note is very successful
one.
In this connection it might be
stated that Northern Michigan
passed thru the season OF 1912 with.
out single disastrous fire while
other sections were devastated in
like manner as before. This Is
graphically shown by comparison of
the report from the state department
with that vi Chief Warden Hickok of
the Forest Fire Protective Depart
ment;
STATE REPORT. 1912.
4O,0sO acres burned over. Property
loss-$67, 500 90.
PROTECTIVE DEPT REPORT.
Property loss by tire, cord of wood.
value So 90.
Practically everv fire in the district
patroled by the wardens OF the pro-
tective department was reported TO
Warden HickOk. The loss is as above
stated. Therefore the loss reported
by the state department must have
been outside the territory Of the For
est Fire Protective Department. This
is significant in that the territory pa
troled by the wardeDs OF this de-
partment had formerly been the
worst fire zone in Michigan and had
sustained the greatest loss Of life aud
property.
The Forest Fire Protective Depart.
ment OF the Michigan Hard wood Man.
ufacturers Association in the Lower
Peninsula and the Northern Forest
Protective Association OF the Upper
Peninsula have demonstrated their
usefulness by saving from loss the
properties protected by them. These
departments work along the same
lines, cooperating with one another
in all matters pertaining To this great
work. The men financing this move
ment are entitled to much credit for
their liberal use Of money In pushing
this compaign. More than s25 900 90
was used la the patrol service OF these
Associations. during the year 1912.
Their motiye may at drst glance ap-