The Raymer enterprise., 1913-11-13

for variable distances are cleared. but in the
ordinary ground fire such work is usually too
slow and unnecessary.
The best tools used by hre-hghtng crew In
the mountains 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
fire is travelling through lot OF down timber
The axmen generally go first. clearing out and
cutting away the heavy stun along the line. then
follow the grub hoe or matto"k men, breaking
through the heavy sod and roots; and last the
shovel men, who clean out the trail or as might
be stated. put the finishing touches on the work
OF the others. The amount OF work a gang Of
men can do depends upon various circumstances.
such as the nature OF the country. tools avail.
able etc, but roughly It might be said that
gang OF twenty men can build mile OF line
day
Aside from few general principles there are
no set rules for fighting forest fres-in fact, It
Is far from black.Rnd.white proposition. Rath.
er 1t calls into play initiative and headwork
and the result attaiEed bears mute evidence OF
the success or failure of the supervising officer,
although always II must be remembered that
that uncertain and uncomfortable factor the
wind. 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 It absolutely
necessary that 1t be watched closely and con.
tnuously until here is not single remaining
yestige OF It's existence
Among the principal causes OF forest fires are
locomotive sparks, lightning camp fires left un.
extinguished. burning OF slash In clearing land.
logging operations-pr principally from fire in the
resultant slash accumulated by the average log.
ger In cutting over an area There are minor
other ways. such as incendarism, ashes from
pipe, lighted cigar or cigarette stub or lighted
match cast thoughtlessy aside. The first three
mentioned however, are the most general
When fire has once assumed the proportions
Of a large top fire. It Is generally inadvisable to
attempt to check It; rather, 1t is good Judgment
10 consider tho safety OF the fire fighters them.
selves. so that they may be In readiness to
attack the fire when It again leaves the tops OF
the trees and assumes It's slower progress along
the ground
II might be mentioned right here that forest
fires, with particular reference to ground fires,
do not always destroy standing timber but often
only the very small trees. brush and surface
cover or humus, Potential timber. OF course has
a distinct value, and the destruction OF a good
soil cover Is n decided detriment to the forest,
but many trees. such as Douglas FIR, tamarack
and yellow pine have a thick heavy bark which
forms good resistance to fre and will often
Withstand periodic ground fires for years Other
trees with thin bark. OF course. succumb quite
readily.
In the report OF the secretary OF agriculture.
embodied In the Yearbook OF the department Of
agriculture for 1911. he states that the iires Of
the calendar year 1910 covered more than 3.ooO..