Bisbee daily review., 1913-11-13
WON FIRE FIGHTS
 IN ARIZONA FORESTS
Figures for 1913 Prove Ex- cellent Work of the Officials

in casting up accounts for the 1913 fire season throughout Arizona and New Mexico. Forest officials find reason for gratifieation in the fact that despite exceptionally dangerous conditions and an unusually large number of forest fires started "A per cent of these fires were located and extinguished before they had burned over ar area Of more than 10 acres. Nearly half of the total number of fires on National Forests in tAe third district were confined to an area of less than one acre
 The records of the Forest Services i Albuqusrque office show that the fire season this year set in toward the latter part of last April Since that time. about 575 fires have been discovered and put out in Arizona and New Mexico forests.
 In looking over the reports cn the origin of fires it IS evident that Lightning played a large part in | starting fires this year About 63 per Ioent of all fires are reported to have begun this way, while big propor- l ton of the I2 per cent of unknown | origin may fairly be attributed to electrical storms One per cent only
 was charged to 'ineendiaries while 3 per cent of the total are laid to care less campers.
 Commenting on the fire season as a whole Tistrict Forest Ranger Ring land said: "As a rule. the fire sea son in the southwest is limited to the dry months of late spring and early
 summer. Relief is usually felt by the beginning of the rainy season in the middle of July. During the past sum ,ner there has been a lack of general rains and a number Of fires occurred during August. Scattered rains re- dneed the fire danger in early Sep tenber, but since the country got . 1 thorough soaking except fin the high 1 mountain regions of northern New i Mexico. the recent dry spell was rluch more serious than would have normally been the case.
 "Fhis general drought during the latter part of October created dan cerous situation in a number of na- uonai forests. Reports received al
 tne Albuquerque office about Novem- her first caused nasty preparations for a fall fire season. Special pa, trolmen were appointed in the ehiei
 danger zones and lookouts who had net been needed for month or SIX
 weeks previously were re-instated srrbe recent rains with snow storms Tn the higher mouHtains have re ueyed the situation, however, and no
 considerable hazard remains"
 "Our fire protective system has un dereons a severe test this year and lin general the results were gratity ing It is. of course, impossible to altogether prevent the starting oi fires. particularly when caused oy iightnipr. It is necessary to bend all cur efforts toward locating fires when started and putting them out as snaadily as possible. Tn this l feel I.Ist we have been exceptionally Tor lt-,nate during the past summer, when itbe unfavorable weather conditiohs
 are taken into account l think that
 onr lookout and patrol system. as
 system, has been proved eihcleht rThe degree to which we can redues inc fire danger in the future. vii ; cone largely, I believe. from the amount of money we can spend or
 fire trails, telephone lines and othe' protective improvement work!