Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-02
AIRpLANE PATROL HELPS
!: TO REDUCE FOREST FIRES
Flying Machines Found Most Efficient
-sr--.- in Discovering and Locating
Contiagrations.
USED IN NATIONAL FORESTS
Wireless Device Must. However, BE
Installed I'm Order to Insure Eff
flcicnt Service in Reporting TO
Flame Fighters.
fSnecial 10 The Times Dispatch.

ispssl,sl 70 The Times pispa,eh.l
ayia,ors have maintained an organized
ME patrol. n The united states, The
at sss's 6 6, art teS of HsFieaitnrS.
State that the record made by the
airplanc has proved beyond question
lis effectiveness as an aid in discover
iig. and iocaiing forest tires
This rev lying nndertakinE WAS vas
War Department, with its personnel
and equipment, and a, the expense of
uninterrupted service was maintained
and a total OF IA flights covering o.
to5 miles were made Many tires were
discovered. located. ana reported in
advance OF the regular Forest service
detection organization.
Six patrol routes covering National
Forest areas oi hifh value IN tatIior-
MIA were followed and twice each day
six curtis a'gTla"Ss r9HTrsd me ,oh net
mountainous. heavily-tirnbcrcd country.
The areraee nonstop run Was l60 miles;
the average round trip 500 miles.
Patrol Extended In Hunting Senson.
With the opening OF the hunting
. season III ihc middle Of the second
. month OF daily dying; above the for
ests. the fire situation in Northern CAL
:. ifornia became critical and an extern
sion OF the air patrol was asked. This
Mas one OF the principal factors ncces-
!. stating complete REORGANIZATION of
;. the whole air patrol in California.
De iiayiIana planes were saHs!itmted
Two new bases we're ESTABLISHED. New
which covered $50 miles. and the ser
/. vice was extended from the originaI
five 10 tifteen National Forests in CAL
: Beginning September /. eight air
planes Iba G aSo GSS Twice each day more
. est and incidentally. 100000 acres
I of priyately, owned, timber lands.
:
. NECESSARY repairs and relief OF pilots.
= forced landings. with one fatality and
+ en.red. Damage to the, airr'anes. con,
: siderinG the number Of miles covered
hS r9"5 fsurTy to- lie toa
s:ef the experiment have been made
or Value in Fire Discovery.
; In the discovery of nrcS the air
patrol showed itself 50 per cent ef-
4 .be made practically TOO pv cent .f-
..1icient. either by proNidit- ur II longer
: period In the air, or possibly by, max
Z, ing the time of flight correspond more
E. closely 10 the hours Of the day when
the larg gan ne lt OF iirGs start
: atmospheric conditions and the height
o. the observer an observer at an al
!. -sc least thirty miles distant.
r~siIhrough experience ana familiarity
with the country are important fac
t,tors in accurately determining the cX-
a -act location OF fires. wonderful results
-yWere obtained by pilots entirely new
Z 80 toe region, but equipped with such
maps IS We're available. one licutcn-
AM, dying a De Haviidnd over an en-
y.U.e,N nSw route, placed within one
hall mile OF its actual location Il 200
";,ene mrs that was inhir,'y.hye miles
.s most directly into the sun
FL i, difficult! In reporting Fircs.
~ TN whole. the reporting of fires.
.Shs distinguished from discovering and
! locating tncm--wHS not so salts
s factory. Phr2chutes with messages at
tached. which were occa sionaiIv used
proved 10 be uncertain. Carrier pigeons
-treieaSed I'm the air and reports made
'1y telephone and telegraph after land
ing were found 10 be too slow to in
i sure best results.
IL is believed that tho wireless pre-
ferably the wireless telephones offers