The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-06
FOREST RANGERS
 ARE V|G|LANT ID
 KEEP DOWN FIRES
The National Preserves in the Western States Pass ing Through Critical
 Period of Year

San Francisco, August 5.-Extreme wig ilance is the order of the day through out the forest service in all the western states in which there are national for ests, because August and September are rated the critical time when forest fires are most numerous and disastrous. These are the dryest months of the year on the Pacific slope and, in consequence the grass and brush in the forests are finder dry and offer the least resistance to fire.
 Throughout the dry season, which be- gins in about April and extends through the early part of November, according to the latitude of the different states, the forest service of the department of agriculture increases it's working forces until it has a host of men throughout the ranges ever on the alert for fires These additional forces augment the reg ular range force, which is on duty the year round.
 Both day and night this large force of Uncle Sam's is wakeful and watchful to detect the dread element that annually causes vast damage to forest and to pIOpeTty Ol ScltlSl anu IhuS iCouieS III an enormous waste that must be kept to the least possible figure. At night time the reflection or the flames makes de- lection easier than during the daylight hours, when thin wisp of smoke at a not easily determined point is all that may herald a disastrous blaze.
 These vigilant guardians of the national forests serve their country with as much al do ba reOr11arS and VOlnntPnrS on the Mexican border. Frequently, in the midst of a serious forest confiagra- ton, they risk their lives as frequently as do the soldiers, but in less spectacular manner. Fighting a forest fire has less the clements of romance than furious cavalry or infantry charge that results in the capture of enemy trench.
 High up on some lonely peak, far from the centers of civilization stands high watch tower that daily is the post of a forest ranger who, with powerful binoc- ular and telescope is on the lookout for the thin, tell-tale banner of vapor that tells its own story of the fight ahead to the watcher. On other peaks there are similar watch towers and the watchers here too. may mark the rising column of smudge from afar All report to a cen tral station, where the fire is accurately located.
 At each watch tower there is circular map of the district within the view of that particular tower. By triangulation on this map the watcher notes the direc- ton of the fire from his tower. The other watch towers do the same and all report to the central station these various di- rections. Where the triangulation lines meet on the great map of the central sta tion, there the fire is. It is simple and yet most effective method The fire located, the fighting forces of the dis trict are mobilized and the battle begins. It may be short and 1t may last for weeks, but 1t is fought none the less relentlessly.
 Stretching in every direction from the central ranger stations are miles of tele- phone and telegraph wires that are used in time of danger to mobilize the fire fighting army. Once the call has been made they come from every d.section prepared to combat the common enemy Frequently these fires occur within a short distance from small villages and towns and then the problem becomes more complex in that the homes once aflame are extinguished with greater diff ficulty.
 Recently the weather bureau in all the states are lending a hand in preventing forest fires. Reports of the direction of winds, whether strong or light are daily sent to the forest service in the various districts for distribution. The probabil-
 ty of rain or continued dryness also form the subject of weather bureau bull letins to the service?
 Besides the use of the telephone and telegraph the forest rangers also use the heliograph with which thy are able to send flashes of sunlight many miles to bring aid. These are where telephone and telegraph lines are not yet available At centrally located depots are caches of dynamite that also are used for signalling purposes. At these depots are stored ma terials for fire fighting purposes and highly specialized apparatus.
 Rigid rules have been laid down for persons camping in the woods and the fire permit system has lessened the num- Der of fires very appreciably. The great est loss comes from the negligent pleas ure seekers who drop lighted matches in the grass and low brush. The fire per- init cards can be obtained either at the general office or of any ranger and there Is no expense attached to it. The good accomplished by this arrangement ap- pears in the fact that when a fire breaks out it is possible to know who had permit to build fire in that territory, for a close record is kept of the permits issued. The fire permit card authorizes the holder to build camp fires on the national forest land between certain dates, provided the following require ments are complied with: To build small fires only; to build fires in the open and not against tree or log or within 20 feet of standing brush; to scrape away all leaves and trash from around the fire; to never leave fire unattended even for short time without first ex- tinguishing it; to extinguish fires first water; then cover with dirt; bonfires are not allowed It Is further provided that when camp is moved the ground must be left in a clean and sanitary condition.
 A Bare Description
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