The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1913-05-23
SER VICE
WARNS CAMPERS
AGAINST FIRES

In spite of the unusual abundance of
snow and rain which has fallen very
generally throughout the mountains
of Arizona during the winter and early
spring, a number of fires have already
occurred on the National Forests
Several small fires have been reported
from the Coconino National Forest in
Arizona and one has occurred on the
Apache Forest, about ten miles north
east of Clifton The largest fire thus
far reported is one which recently
burned over about 200 acres in the
Sandia mountains on the Manzano
National Forest in New Mexico. A
fire which was discovered on the
Alamo Forest at p. m. on April 10
was fought from early that evening
until $50 p. M. on April 20 before 1t
was finally extinguished. This fire
was located by a special lookout man
located at a lookout tower from which
he telephoned the news of the fire
to the local ranger. Reports indi-
cate that most of the fires thus far
have been caused by carelessness on
the part of campers or other users of
the. forests The large fire, on the
Manzano resulted from a grass fire
which was started by resident of the
| community and got beyond his con-
| troll The Alamo fire which was
fought at considerable expense and
time broke out from camp fire which
was carelesSly left burning. These
fires fall distinctly, therefore, in the
! class of fires which might easily have
been prevented by proper regard
for the Importance of fire protection
on the part of those who started them.
In view of the enormous; value OF
Forest resources to Greenlee County
and Arizona it is exceedingly import
ant 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 lower elevations
ordinarily do not kill standing mer-
/ charitable timber because of the open
1 nature of most of the forests in the
:! southwest, they not only injure the
range but do great damage to young
Seeding trees. The value of these
4 seedlings and immature trees is often
not fully recognized, but when it is
remembered that on a thrifty growth
of reproduction depends the future
: stands of merchantable timber and
the future protection of the headwa-
tiers of streams important for irriga-
ton, it can be readily realized that
every fire occurring in timber land re-
suits in damage more or less serious,
even though this might be difficult to
figure at the present time in dollars
and cents.
The Forest Service has an
organization on each National
Forest for discovering fires and
fighting them when they occur. Look
out towers have been built where
needed and connected by telephone
. lines with rangers headquarters and
towns and camps where fire fighters
can be secured at short notice. The
organization is more complete this
year than ever before and thousands
of dollars are being spent to provide
for handling serious emergencies If
I they occur. The most important
factor in fire protection, however, is
fire prevention and to secure this the
cooperation of the public is absolute
! ly necessary. Practically the only
fires which cannot be prevented are
those which result from lightning.
! While great many of these occur,
especially in the high elevations of
/ the White mountains and the Blue
Range, they can usually be located
; promptly by the lookoutS and ex-
| tinguished before much harm is done.
Immunity from all other classes. of
j fires depends upon an enlightened
public opinion and carefulness on the
part of every one who visits the noun
: Cd1nS, Iu0 uIy sen
son. The dangerous period, during
which fire prevention becomes the
! chief feature of the rangers work on
| the National Forests, has already COM
| menced and will last until the open
| ing of the rainy season in the mid
die of the summer. 1t is during this
season particularly that residents of
the forest, fishermen and all others
who have occasion to visit the noun
tains, should keep constantly in mind
the following Six Rules for care
with fire:
1. Be sure your match is out be-
fore you throw it away.
2. Knock out your pipe ashes OIL
throw your cigar or cigarette stump
where there is nothing to catch fire.
g. Don't build a camp fire any
larger than is absolutely necessary.
| Never leave it even for a short time
without putting it OUT with water or
earth.
f. Don't build camp fire against
a tree or log. Build a small one
where you can scrape away the nee
dies, leaves or grass from all sides
of it.
) Iont build bonfres. The Wind
may come up at any time and >tt't
a fire you cannot control.
e. II YOU discover fire, put 1t
out if possible; if you can't, get word
Of it to the nearest U. S. Forest
KaIcer or State Fire Warden just as
orickIy as you possibly can.