Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-11
DISASTROUS FOREST FIRE SEASON
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN

WASHINGTON. u. C.. August 10
From Canada comes the news of the
greatest loss In decades from forest
fires. Thousands OF acres have been
burned over. millions OF dollars worth
OF timber destroyed. and. worse STILL
entire villages have been wiped out by
the flames with the loss OF several hum
dred human lives. 1t is tho season OF
forest fires IN toe pine and spruce
woods. Their work OF destruction is
not confined 10 America. y recent dis
patch tells how the King OF Greece
was driven from his summer home and
almost lost his life In Il forest fire.
But the problem OF forcst-.ire pre-
ven;ion on a large scale is peculiarly
an American problem. In Europe the
woods are smaller. they arc hand
tended 30 10 speak. and tho finder
dry underground that feeds and car
rics tire is rarely present. Very few
OF these European forests. moreover.
are ''primcval" Most oc them are the
result OF planting. and the trees are
carefully spaced. y third safeguard
that the European forest enjoys il
the high price OF wood. When they
cut down and trim tree there they
gather up the chips and the trimmed
branches.
In the United states and Canada the
problem is so different that American
forestry amounts To separate sci
encc. Here We have immense stretches
OF virgin timber. much OF it miles from
any human hab!tation, with dense UNI
dcrgrowth choking the earth IN many
places, and with the chips and trim
mngs from numbering operations in
the old Unrcgcncrate days lit;ering the
ground like a powder train in the dry
season.
The furnace OF destruction that ragged
in Ontario until the rains Guenchci IL
il a significant example OF what fire
unleashcd in such aSforest can do.
Here in the United States we have
1873 national forests, covering l56,00o.-
coo acres. 1t is interesting to consider
the system by which the Forest Ser
vice guards against the catastrophe o.
n big FIRE.
There VIII be forest fires. apparent
l.. as long as there are forests. This
fire season there have been 1890 fires
In the western forest reserves. None
OF them took on formidable proper.
tons because they were up against
system that was TOO much for them.
as IL would DO too much for any but
the most exceptional fires.
No Hope After Fnir Stnrt.
Fire fighting is really Ire proven.
ton IT is a wcll-worn maxim of the
service that when It fire is hftcen min.
utes old. one man can put II out with
his boots. Give ii an hours start and
he will need a spade and another man
to help him. Give 1t day and the
countryside will have to turn out with
dynamite Give it two or three days
and therc may he nothing left to do
but what some of the Canadian farm
erS were forced to. They deserted
everything they owned and took TO
the lakes.
Obviously. the first step in putting
out fire IS 10 reach the fire. In the
rugged country OF the western reserves
1t is comparatively easy TO place look
out stations on high points. whence
man can see for many miles. But in
order 10 do any good. that man must
be able to notify other men of tho fires
existence and they must be able to
reach the fire lii quick time. Hence
the question is primarily one Of trails
and roads. The Forest Service has
built many thousand miles OF these,
through what was up to few years
ago virgin timber and untrodden soil.
These roads and trails have played an
important part in the increasing use
and benefit that the public is deriving
from the forest reserves. They open
the country to the homcsteadcr and
the camper, and they would have JUS
titled their construction on that score
alone, put before all innings lncy arc
means of fire prevention.
The whole organization which Is
back OF the mobilization of our fire.
fighting resources seems TO be tho
nearest thing to the German military
system that we have in this country.
1t Is organized with similar care for
detail from top TO bottom. and it has
it's campaigns laid out in advance.
Like the citizen of a country with the
CONSUMPTION system, the dweller on the
national forest is likely to be called
on for duty whenever the need arises
When q special use permit is issued
TO man or II company to set ,ip in
business, in numbering or in cattle
raising on Il forest, there is ~ clause
to the effect that that man and his
employees will furnish certain assis-
tance If called upon in the event of
fire. 1t may be said in passing. that
in the big timber country this as
sistance would he furnished with or
without contract obligation. In such
country they know what forest fires
mean.
Chief Forester nj Hcnd.
The head Of the fire prevention army
the commandments chief so to speak
is the Chief Forester in Washington.
whose headquarters may be likened to
those of the general staff Field head
quarters are represented by the various
district headquarters, located In half