The Red Cloud chief., 1913-11-13
c3EzT S0NU UNWi1RnEGZTD WEN NeF-

for variable distances are cleared but in the
ordinary ground fire such work Is usually too
slow and unnecessary.
The best tools used by a 1re-hghting crew In
the mountains are axes. shovels and mattocks or
grub hoes. the hoes being usually In greatest
proportion and most effective. Often one or two
crosscut saws are useful. particularly where the
hre Is travelling through a lot OF down timber.
The axmen generally 20 first, clearing out and
cutting away the heavy stun along the line: then
follow the grub hoe or mattock men, breaking
through the heavy sod and roots: and last the
shovel men. who clean out the trail or, as might
be stated put tho finishing touches the work
or the others. The amount of work gang OF
men can do depends upon various circumstances
such as the nature OF the country, tools avail.
able, ETC.. but roughly 1t might be said that
gang OF twenty men can build mile of line q
day.
Aside from few general principles there are
no set rules for fighting forest fires--in fact It
Is FAR from black-andwhite proposition Rath.
er, 1t calls into play initiative and headwork.
and the result attained bears mute evidence OF
the success or failure OF the supervising officer
although always 1t must be remembered that
that uncertain and uncomfortable factor the
wihd. can snatch victory from the hands OF man
SO quickly and easily as to make II seem some.
times veritable mockery OF his efforts And
too. the unbelievable action OF fire, even when
apparently under control makes 1t absolutely
tinuously until there Is not a single remaining
vestige OF its existence
Among the principal causes OF forest fires are
locomotive sparks. lightning camp fires left un
eXtlngushed, burning OF slash In clearing land
logging operations principally from fire in the
resultant slash accumulated by the average log
ger In cutting over area. There are minor
other ways such as incendiarism, ashes from a
pipe lighted cigar or cigarette stub or lighted
match cast thoughtlessly aside. The first three
mentioned, however. are the most general
when fire has once assumed the proportions
OF large top fire. II Is generally inadvisable to
attempt to check It; rather. 1t is good Judgment
to consider the safety OF the fire fighters them
serves, so that they may be In readiness to
attack the fire when It again leaves the tons of
the trees and assumes It's slower progress along
the ground
1t might be mentioned right here that forest
nres. with particular reference to ground fires.
90 not always destroy standing timber, but often
only the very small trees. brush and surface
cover or humus. Potential timber of course. has
distinct value, and the destruction of a good
SOIL cover Is a decided detriment to the forest.
but many trees. such as Douglas fr tamarack
and yellow pine have thick. heavy bark which
forms good resistance to FIRE and will often
Withstand periodic ground hres for years Other
trees with thin bark OF course, succumb ouite
readily.
In the report Of the secretary of agriculture
embodied In the Yearbook OF the department of
agriculture for 1911. he states that 'the ares OF
the calendar year 1910 covered more than 5000.