The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-02-14
FIRE COMPANIES
AMONG FARMERS
Become Members of Voluntary
Organizations With All the
Necessary Equipment.
PLANNED BY COUNTY AGENTS
Estimated That Quarter of Million
Dollars Worth of Grain Was
Saved Last Year-Wider Field
of Usefulness Seen.

A smoke smudge on the horizon in
the country no longer means certain
and complete loss.
At least, this is true in $1,000 square
miles of California where 5000 farm
ers have enlisted in rural fire COM
panies, equipped with trailer fire
carts, stationed at strategic points and
ready to meet the fire peril when it
appears. The plan was developed by
the county agricultural agents, in CO.
operation. with the forest service of
the United States department of agri-
culture, and ii is estimated that a
quarter of a million dollars worth of
summer of 1918. The plan was de-
vised for the purpose of reducing
losses in grain fields and on grass
-.nges, but department of agriculture
specialists believe it might be given a
much wider field of usefulness in the
protection of practically all kinds of
farm property from loss by fire.
Under the California plan the
county farm bureau becomes the CEN
trail fire protection agency. A local
fire company was formed at each COM
munity farm bureau center, and the
members pledged themselves to re-
spond instantly to the call of fire.
Each community elected Sire boss"
who was commissioned as deputy
state fire warden, and a Sire dis
hatcher" whose duty it is to remain
at the telephone during fires to give
information and obtain help.
Traiiers Carry Equipment.
In most of the communities a two
wheeled trailer fire cart was obtained.
These trailers are of simple construc-
tion. may be attached to any automo-
bile. and are completely equipped with
chemical fire extinguishers, water
cans filed with wet sacks, with forks
and shovels, and with a container for
drinking water for the fire lighters.
The trailer is Kept at the cross ROADS
or other most accessible point in the
community, and the first automobile
passing on the way to fire hitches
TO the trailer and takes it along. out
of the 1866 rural fire companies organ
ized in California last year, 2o1 are
eauipped with such .trailers.
The saving of quarter of million
dollars in q. single season in this
limited territory is an indication OF
what might result if the plan were
generally adopted in communities
where conditions are such as to make
If workable. There are some rural
where such a plan might
NOT he advisable, but in the majority,
perhaps, it would be workable. Prior
RI the extensive spread of the farm
bureau system, which came primarily
&c a war measure during 1917 and
1918 IT, would not have been possible,
since If is necessarily a cooperative
activity. But the farm
bureau system has come to stay, ana
r. affords the sort of cooperative ef-
FORT of which community fire protec-
tior may well be part.
Similar Need Elsewhere.
throughout q dozen or more states,
tbare exists need for pr0tectlon
aoainst fire in grain and grass helus,
at thrashers. and the like, similar 10
tbat in California In other large areas
,,rhare wooded tracts are interspersed
.,.,.h t;l,ed fields and where woods
f;res are of frequent occurrence ana
,ftan spread 10 crops and buildings,
MO- ayists The same need as in the
,vtensive grain fields. And, in the
yaneral protection Of farm buildings
/ ~ fences. in hay loft and hay rick
Tres from spontaneous combustion of
cc;dent in ores spreading from burn