The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-12-22
NATIONAL FOREST
FIRES IN 1874
OVER 5000
Forestry Service Had Hardest
Tussle of It's Existence Dur
ing Past Season, With the
Lowest Losses.

The seaso of 1914, according TO
the officials OF the forest service,
carried greater danger from fire 10
the national forests than any year
since the establishment of the nation
al forests. To meet this emergency
and to prevent great loss OF public
property. the department OF agricul-
ture was obliged 10 exceed the
amount appropriated for fire prOtoc-
tion ana incur a deficiency Of sa4e
s43. The conditions OF drouth and
other factors OF forest fire hazard
were said To he worse than in 1910.
when the disastrous Idaho fires oc-
Cured.
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 and an early drying out OF the
Forests. In western Montana and
northern Idaho there were forest
fires in considerable numbers by ne
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 Ave weeks earlier than
usual. and In the southern part OF
the state this fire danger was still
great al the end Of November. A
long dry season. sustained periods OF
high temperature. recurring hard and
steady winds. and. In certain places.
unusually hot, dry nights, rendered
the forests exceedingly inflammable
and the problem OF fire prevention
unusually difficult
More Than Six Thousand Fires.
The total number Of fires during
the season Of 1914 which threatened
the national forests and which had
10 be handled by the protective or
ganization OF the forest service were
G.ll2, or about 1909 more than oc-
Icurrod In 1910. This number repre-
sents the fires reported up To Deem
Der /. ~ hat time . indicated
that there was stiii "A dangerous con
dition In southern California and m
certain portions Of the national for
ests ~ the east. The service says
that the total for the yeaT will be in
creased by fires in these Regions dur
ing December.
The most serious conditions are re-
ported from western Montana and
northern Idaho and on the Pacific
slope. The weather conditions Ia the
central and southern Rocky noun
tain regions weer moro nearly nor
mai As a consequence only ~ per
cent Of the total number of AN ma
tional forest fires occurred In these
regions and they were handled with
.fHH IaTnrFNfH aud Nrffh M.WH gguaNl
loss Of property +.
or the entire Gii2 ores wnlch
threatened the national forests. 81 per
cent were extinguished by the pro-
~tective organization before they had
covered 10 acres. The p%crcentsge OF
tires that burned over more than 10
acres WAS smaller than IN any pre-
vioua year.
While detailed reports have @ yet
been received appraising the exact
loss 80 the government through the
forest fires. a preliminary estimate
shows that the total loss OF mcrchan-
disc timber viii probably not exceed
$500. 600. In 1910 the corresponding
estimate OF loss WAS nearly sir, GOO
GOO. bat later estimates materially re-
duced the amount. ThTOugh the work
Of the protective force the hres this
year were largely confined 20 old
burns and 10 less heavily timbered
areas. The loss 10 the government
through the destruction OF youne
trees which had sprpng up In these
openings II larger than the actual
loss TO green timber.
Region OF Greatest Danger,
In Montana and Idaho alone, Il is
said that the value OF specific bodies
OF timber which were threatened by
the approximately 1000 fires which
started aad were put CUT, aggregated
the enormous sum Of over $4,000 600,
II was In this section that the largeai
amount OF money had 10 be spent T.
prevent a recurrence 81 the grcat dis
aster Of 1910. In Oregon ana Wash
inston. the 1900 fires which were
handled BY the department threaten
ed upwards Of ~S2f.000.0O0 worth OF
timber. And these hgures accordina
10 the department experts, do not in
clude the value OF non-merchantable
timber and young growth on abou'
100000 acres Of land, n several
million dollars worth OF ranch and
ether private property which las IN
the path Of the threatening confiagTa-
lions. Figures are not yet gathered
OF the precise amount Of damRss
threatened b. hres Ia California and
other national forest states though
they are expected 20 add large
amounts 10 the total value OF the
I PROPERTY Threatened aud saved.