The Coconino sun., 1915-05-28
FOREST SERVICE FORCES
 PREPARE FOR FIRE SEASON

While reports from the various Ma tional Forest headquarters in Arizona and New Mexico show that there was little if any danger of forest fires at the close of the first two weeks in May, due to the unusual heavy snow fall during the winter months, coupled with the heavy storms in the latter part of April, the necessary arrange ments have been made so that the fire plans can be put into effect immedia- tely upon change of conditions. Fire plans, as the name implies, deal spe- officially with the protection of the for ests from fires and comprise detail- ed instructions. Among other things, they indicate the number of men to be employed during the fire season to supplement the regular year-long force, the location of these men, their duties as to patrol and action to be taken in the event fires are discover ed. To insure the highest efficiency, every man must know in advance just what part he must play when fires are detected. He must have suitable fire fighting equipment and know where labor for fighting fires can be obtained and the quickest way to ob- tain it. He will also know the accu- rate location of tool boxes containing supplies of tools, food, pack outfits, etc, so that no delay will be caused in equipping the fire fighting force with the necessary tools, or in estab- fishing camp and feeding the men. In spite of the favorable climatic conditions, eleven fires have been re- ported. These occurred for the most part in late March and early April in the period before the spring storms hills country. Of these fires, five l burned over areas above ten acres each while the others were confined to less than one acre each. Two or three of the larger fires burned in open patches of dry grass surrounded by drifts of snow.
 A comparison of the records for the 1914 fire season throughout Arizona and New Mexico with those preced- ing years indicates line of increas- ing efficiency that is very gratifying to Forest Service officials.
 During the season of 1913, "A per cent of the fires were located and ex- tinguished before they had burned over an area of more than ten acres. The percentage of the same class of fires for the season of 1914 was over 93 per cent, but 8 fires, or a little more than per cent, covering more than ten acres. Of the total of 536 fires during 1914, over 73 per cent or 394 were located and suppressed before they had covered an area of more than one fourth acre.
 The weather conditions were per haps more favorable during the past season than during 1913, but com parison of the records shows that a greater number of fires were discov- cred and suppressed during their in cipiency.
 Forest officials state that there are number of factors contributing to this increasing efficiency, such as the construction of telephones, roads and trails, work that is' being pushed as rapidly as funds permit, the constant improvement of Forest fire protec- tion plans and the growing coopera- tion accorded by Forest users, both permanent and transient.
 "Of all preventative factors, it is claimed that lone of the most impor- tant is the proper care of camp fires. Fires originating from lighting must be, expected, but those of human agen- cy by the use of care can be reduced to almost nothing"
 "One of the most pleasing features emphasized in the record of the past season was the fact that number of fires were either reported to Forest officers or extinguished by Forest us- ers."
 "The average person, whether he is dependent on Forest resources for his livelihood or for recreation, is realiz, ing more and more each day the de! structive value of fires"
 "This growing sentiment is an i'm, portant factor, and has large bear, ing on efficiency as it will in time make possible the heaviest concentra. tion of our protective systems or zones affected only by lightning" . The protection of the Forests covers a tremendous field, involving the most