The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1914-01-09
FIRES IN FEDERAL
FORESTS GREATLY
DECREASE
In Article Concerning Question, Jno.
D. Guthrie, of the Forestry Ser
vice, Writes Entertainingy-
Mentions Regions Familiar
to Clifton People.

The annual forest fire report for
the past summer for the Apache
Forest has just been compiled in the
Supervisors office in Springerville
and shows some interesting facts
about forest fires in Greenlee and
Apache counties.
OF a total of 72 fires occurring on
the Forest, Ga per cent of this num-
Der burned over less than IA of an
acre each and 16 per cent burned
over an area less than 10 acres. The
total area burned over by the 72
fires was, over $500 acres, the largest
of which was the Green's Peak fire
covering about 1900 acres This fire
was the worst of the entire season,
on account of high winds prevailing
OF the causes of these fires 43 are
attributed to lightning, to careless
ness of campers, IL to careleSsness of
stOckmen and users of the Forest, 13
to unknown causes and l to incendi-
ary. The total damage to young ma
ture standing timber and the range
by fires is conservatively estimated
at $3.50 90. Besides destroying the
grass and forage crop the chief
damage done by ground or surface
fires is to the seedlings and young
trees. Because of the thickness of
the bark, older trees are not affect
ed to any extent but the younger seed
lings and saplings, thin barked and
tender. are generally killed outright,
and the amount of this damage dur
ing the past season is placed at
$500 90.
The past season was an unusually
severe one for forest fires on account
of the long, hot, dry periods during
June and July as is shown by the
number of fires which is nearly twice
as great as the number for 1912.
To fight the fires on the Apache
Forest it cost the Government in
tools, supplies and the time of hired
1904 IS, while in cooperation ranch
ers, stockmen and settlers offered
their services to the value of S241. 90.
From this it will be seen that nearly
one-third of the total fire fighting was
done by settlers and stockmen who
donated their services. This goes to
show that rangers aren't the only
fire fighters and that residents in or
near the Forest generally recognize
the danger and damage from fires
and try to suppress them.
Mt. Baldy and Escudilla are two
fire lookout points used to the best
advantage by rangers in locating
ires, both being connected with tele
latter having on its high
est point a fifty foot lookout tower
and a rangers cabin.
1t will be of interest to a number
If Clifton people who annually take
1 hunting or fishing trip in the Blue /
Range to learn that several improve /
nents aiming toward greater protec-
ion against forest fires have been .
constructed there by the Forest /
'angers. On the most easterly point .
If the south rim of the Blue Range |
| fifty foot lookout tower is being .
,uilt and is connected by telephone /
o the main. Forest line
A lookout station equipped with tele /
)hone, cabin, and fire tool box has |
llso been established on the high
point just north of the forks of
Bear Wallow Greek on the Blue i
Range. This lookout station is with
n the Forest district in charge of |
Iuy Rencher whose headquarters on |
eagle Creek is named Honeymoon. !
As an opposite the high lookout !
)oint has been called Reno Hill.
Fire tool boxes such as the one |
mentioned above play an important +
)art in the general scheme of forest !
ire protection and campers who have |
'ound these red boxes scattered |
through the Forest should know more
lbout them. Each box contains |
,hovels, rakes, axes, eye hoes, buck
cts, water bags, and other tools for |
ocated at centralI points and trail |
so as to be readily accesi-
lie to Rangers and Forest users en-
quite to a fire. During the fire sea-
;on each box is locked with a car
seal which is to be broken whenever
he tools are needed for fighting fires
~ the public or forest rangers.