Williams news., 1913-05-17
CAMPING PARTIES
 MUST EXERCISE CARE

III SplIc Ol Iilc dDuuudllCC Ol SllOW and rain which has fallen very gen ally throughout the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico during the winter and early spring, number of fires have already occurred on the national forests. Several small fires have been reported from the Coco nino national forest in Arizona, and one has occurred on the Mt. Taylor division of the Zuni. The largest fire thus far repor ed is one which recently burned over about 200 acres in the Sandia mountains on the Manzano national forest
 Reports indicate that most of the fires thus far have been caused by carelessness on the part of campers or other users of the forests.
 In view of the enormous value of forest resources to New Mexico and Arizona il is exceedingly important that the public be reminded of the necessity of saving the forests from burning and that the utmost caution be exercised, particularly in the use of camp fires in the mountains. While fires at the lowest elevations ordinarily do not kill standing mer- chantable timber because of the open nature of most of the forest in the southwest, they not only injure the range, but do great damage to young seeding trees. The value of these seeding and immature trees is often not fully recognized, but when it is remembered that on a thrifty growth of reproduction de- bends the future stands of mer- chantable timber and the future pro tection of the headwaters of streams important for irrigation, it can be ready realized that every fire occur ring in timber land results in dam age more or less serious, even tho this might be difficult to figure at the present time in dollars and cents.
 Practically the only fires which cannot be prevented are those which result from lightning. While great many of these occur, especially in the high mountains, they can usu- ally be located promptly by the lookouts and extinguished before much harm is done. Immunity from all other classes of fires depends upon an enlightened public opinion and carefulness on the part of every one who visits the mountains, par ticularly during the dry season. This dangerous period, during which fire prevention becomes the chief feature of the rangers work on the national forests, is likely to commence very soon and will last until the opening of the rainy season in the middle of the summer. It is during this sea- son particularly that residents of the forests and all others who have oc- casion to visit the mountains should keep constantly in mind the follow ing ''six rules for care with fire:
 l. Be sure yopr match is out be- fore you throw it away.
 ?. Knock out your pipe ashes or throw your cigar or cigarette stump where there is nothing to catch fire.
 B. Don't build a camp fire any. longer than is absolutely necessary. Never leave it even for a short time without putting it out with water or earth.
 A. Don't build camp fire against a tree or log. Build small one where you can scrape away, the needles, leaves or grass from all sides of it.
 5. Don't build bonfres. The wind may come up at any time and start fire you cannot control.
 6. If you discover fire, put it out if possible; if you can'tget word