Las Vegas optic., 1914-12-21
FIRES DO
GREAT DAMAGE
in 1914
ANNUAL REPORT SHOWS GREAT
Err LOSSES THAN SINCE
THE YEAR 1910

to prevent great loss or PUBIC proper |
ty, the department of agriculture was |
obliged to exceed the amount appro-
priated for fire protection and incur a
deficiency Of $349,243. The conditions
of drouth and other factors of forest
fire hazard were said to be worse than
ir 1910, when the disastrous Idaho
fires occurred.
Weather bureau reports show that
in most of the Rocky mountain and
Pacific coast region last winters
SHOWS were much below the normal,
and as a result there was an early
spring drying out of the forests. In
western Montana and northern Idaho
there were great forest fires in con-
siderable numbers by the end of May
and they continued until October. In
California, where there is normally a
very long season Of drouth, the fire
season started in some portions five
weeks earlier than usual, and in the
southern port of the state the fire dan
ger was still great at the end Of No
vember A long dry season, sustained
periods of high temperature, recur-
ring hard and steady winds, and, in
certain places, unusually hot, dry
nights, rendered the forests exceed
ingly inflammable and the problem of
fire prevention unusually difficult
The total number of fires during the
season of 1914 which threatened the
national forests and which had to be
handled by the protective organization
of the forest service we're 6,112, or
about 1000 more than occurred in
! 1910. This number represents the
/ fires reported up to December 1. At
that time reports indicated that there
was still a dangerous condition in
southern California and in ceitsin por-
tions of the national forests of the
east. The service says that the total
for the year will be increased by fires
/ in these regions during December.
The most serious conditions are re
ported from western Montana and
northern Idaho and on the Pacific
slope The weather conditions in the
central and southern Rocky mountain
,soor;oro xuoro. 4,no,~o ,,oaYlU nan1nal Ac
a consequence only Is per cent of the
total number of all national forests
fires occurred in these regions and
they were handled without difficulty
and with very small loss of property.
OF the entire 6,112 fires which
threatened the national forests. 81 per
cent were extinguished by the protec-
tive organization before they had GOV.
cred 10 acres. The percentage Of
fires that burned over more than 10
acres was smaller than in any previ.
GUS year
While detailed reports have not yet
been received appraising the exact
loss to the government through the
forest fires, a preliminary estimate
shows that the total loss of merchant
able timber will probably not exceed
100000. In 1910 the corresponding
estimate of loss was nearly $15,000,0 900
but later estimates materially reduced
the amount. Through the work OF the
protective force the fires this year
Swere largely confined to old burns and
to less heavily timbered areas. The
loss to the government through the
destruction Of young trees which had
sprung up in these openings is larger
than the actual loss to green timber.
In Montana and Idaho alone it is
said that the value of specific bodies
of timber which were threatened by
the approximately 1000 fires which
started and were put out, aggregated
the enormous sum of over $50, 100000
It was in this section that the largest
amount of money had to be spent to
prevent a recurrence of the great dis
aster of 1910. In Oregon and Wash
ington the 1900 fires which were han
died by the department threatened up
wards of $24OOO,OOO worth of timber.
And these figures, according to the
department experts, do not include
the value of non-merchantable timber
and young growth on about 5000 900
acres of land, and several million dol
lars worth Of ranch and other private
property which lay in the path of the
threatening conflagrations Figures
are not yet gathered of the precise
amount Of damage threatened by fires
in California and other national forest
states, though they are expected to
add large amounts to the total value
Of the property threatened and saved.
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s
Saturday