Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-12-07
On Guard Against Fires.
State Forest Fire Protective
Force at Height of Autumn
Fire Prevention Season.

FIRE prevention season.
This is the forest fire period Oc-
curing semi-annually in the fall and
spring, when the woods are dry, it is
at these two times that forest fires
occur. The fall season is now more
than halfway past but not until
SHOWS come will the danger period
be over.
Though there have been many fires
in 1916, and there will likely be
many more, the amount OF damage
has been much less than in former
years. This is attributable, accord
ing to the States Board OF Forestry,
to at least two causes: Owners OF
woodland are more and more begin
ming to realize their productive val
ue, and when fires occur they are not
neglected; and a special appropria-
ton by the last Legislature has made
it possible to bring about closer,
better organization af Maryland's
Forest Protective System. The pres
ent system consists of the State For
ester at Baltimore, who keeps in
touch with all the Wardens and to
whom all reports are made; and the
field force of 4S State Forest War
dens, 1S of whom are on special duty
as Federal Patrolmen under coop
erative arrangement with the U. S
Forest Service, which pays their sal
aries on a per diem basis, and three
Lookout Watchnan stationed at Fire
Observations towers.
The remaining Forest Wardens are
especially authorized and delegated
to investigate and extinguish any
fires in their respective localities and
to employ all necessary means at the
expense of the State and County to
bring fires speedily under control.
Such a force, however efficient, can
not always prevent fires, with the
careiessness still prevalent in many
sections, yet when fire occurs the
most important thing is to extinguish
it Immediately, with the least dam
age and expense. And that is what
the Fire Protection System aims to
do. 1t also exercises a strong inhu-
ence in prevention by closely follow
ing up and investigating fires and
holding those who start them respon-
sible under the Forest Law, whenever
sufficient evidence of guilt can be
found.
Soon after the fire season began E.
R. Ford, Assistant Forester, has been
constantly in the field, for most OF
the time in Western Maryland, in
vestigating fires and comforting with
the Forest Wardens and helping them
to improve local conditions and there
by increase the efficiency of the sys-
tenn as whole. New Wardens and
and Patrolmen have been commits
stoned wherever special fire hazard
warranted, and the entire system is
being extended and its efficiency in
creased. Mr.. Ford, who has recent
ly taken up this branch of the work,
reports that he finds the Forest War
dens thoroughly interested in the
work, highly respected in their COM
munities, and doing public service
at nominal cost, since they receive
no salary but are paid for services
rendered. These services are being
more and more appreciated as the
good results of the work become ap-
parent.
An acquaintance with the local
Forest Wardens will prove profitable
in the conservation and protection of
the woodlands of the State. They
constitute an asset worth the best
that we can give them.
Forest Wardens for Frederick coun-
ty are: S. P. Bussard, Lantz; Jas.
Delauter, Garfield; F. W. Fraley,
Catoctin; s. Moss, Ere derrick; Glide
on o. Harne, Point of Rocks; Albert
L. Hauver, Foxville; Chas. e. Klein,
Braddock Heights; VIM. McP. Nc
Gill, Catoctin; e. e. Feaga. Yellow
Springs.