The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-11-15

for variable distances are cleared, but in the
ordinary ground fire such work is usually too
slow and unnecessary
The best tools used by ire-fghting 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
nre is travelling through a lot of down timber
The axmen generally 60 first, clearing out and
cutting away the heavy stuff along the line; then
follow the grub hoe 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 the finishing touches 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 1t might be said that a
gang of twenty men can build a mile of line a
day.
Aside from few general principles there are
no set rules for fighting forest fires-in fact it
Is far from a 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 it 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 1t seem some
times a veritable mockery OF his efforts. And,
too, the unbelievable action of fire. even when
apparently under control, makes 1t absolutely
necessary that II be watched closely and con-
tinuously until there is not single remaining
vestige Of its existence.
Among the principal causes of forest fires are
locomotive sparks, lightning. camp fires left un-
extnguished, burning of slash in clearing land
logging operations principally from fire in the
resultant slash accumulated by the average log
ger In cutting over an area There are minor
other ways. such incendiarism ashes from a
pipe. lighted cigar cigarette stub or lighted
match cast thoughtessly aside. The first three
mentioned, however are the most general.
When a fire has once assumed the proportions
OF a large top fire. It Is generally inadvisable to
attempt to check it; rather, It is good judgment
to consider the safety of the fire fighters them
selves, so that they may be in readiness to
attack the fire when 1t again leaves the tops of
the trees and assumes its slower progress along
the ground
1t 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 a decided detriment to the forest.
and yellow pine. have thick heavy bark which
forms good resistance to fire and will often
Withstand periodic ground fires for years. Other
trees with thin bark. Of course, succrmb 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 fires of
the calendar year 1910 covered more than 1000.