Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-26

u8OAO ooSOU0VEJ IA uoSSSSsA6 eAA~ ~A
rectins the fighting Of fires in the
vast national forests of this country,
which sre located mostly in the far
west and northwest.
As a result Of several months of
experimenting along this line it has
been found that the patrolling of the
forests with airplanes will prove of
tremendous advantage hereafter in
holding the expensive fires in check
The use of airplanes for that purpose
are therefore destined to become just
much of a permanent arrangement
with the forest service as are the
use Of night watchmen and dre en-
gines in the cities Of the country.
Il y X
The national forests of America COM
prise a trifie more than 153,000,000
acres. the majority Of which are To-
Gated in California, Arizona, New
Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Ore
gon. Washington. Idaho and Montana.
Since the forest service Of the United
States government took over the for
ests of these several states, It has
been the custom to use every means
possible to prevent the spreading Of
fires over large areas which naturally
resulted in the burning of valuable
timber, also In the destruction of
farmhouses. crops ard live stock To-
Gated in the intervening or adjacent
valleys. The destruction by such fires
last year aggregated close to $780,
400, 900.
Prior to the advent of the airplane
this work was carried on as efficient
ly as the rough and mountainous
character of most of the forest coun-
try would permit. This work was
done through the use of men who
would tramp through the woods on
foot or on horseback whenever 1T was
possible to do so. Every few miles
these lonely mountaineer patrols
would climb to the tops of the
largest trees. and carefully peer in
every direction for signs Of smoke or
fire.
AS a general rule forest fires occur
from lightning. the burning of brush
by settlers clearing land. failure to
cAtiAS uloh CdIiP ulSS ttlo oCStAoiohhi'y
through the pure unadulterated mean
ness of some human firebug who has
a real or imaginery grievance against
some one. By far the larger number
of forest fires are started by light
ming 1t is not at all uncommon for
electrical storms to sweep over large
areas of forests without sufficient
20
guish fires in their incipiency. Light
ming seems to have a habit of strik-
ing old dead tree trunks. In one
definite instance known to the forest
service dead tree trunk, struck by
lightning, smoldered for three
months before the blaze assumed dan
gerous proportions One of the worst
fires ever experienced ensued as re-
suit.
As a rule the fires due to prevent
able causes, such as camp fires OF
firebugs, are not SO very far from
railroads or wagon roads, making II
possible for quick detection and easy
for the fire.fightfng forces to reach
the scene before gaining serious head.
way. But, on inc OtHeF Hdilu, JoNe
seems to take particular delight
in hurting his fiery shafts II
the most remote and inaccessible
mountain Businesses. A single cleo
trical disturbance will frequent!
start from. twenty to thirty fires
within a few miles of each other, ant
just as often they will be scattered
over a wide range Of territory Wher
they are close together they usual!
quickly burn together. forming on
big fire. sweeping all before it II tn
wind happens. unfortunately, to b
high.
Fighting these raging forest fires i
not child's play by any means Befor
the coming Of the airplane the fighter
were compelled to work at a decide
disadvantage on account of being un
y able to obtain a irrespective of the sit
uation. This often caused them to b
4 trapped by fires sweeping In oppOsit
directions. II a. stream or lake hap
pened to be within running distance
they would all head for 1t pell mel
and remain. there with all of thei
bodies submerged except their haadi
As q means Of protecting their face