The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-12-17
Ire Danger Past
in Jersey Forests

~ ON OANoSO
Ian g geniBtadieii . lad shrdh
Cape May Landing, N. Little
ar is enterteined now of the annual
rest fires which year after year have
hken such a valuable toll Of Jersey
timber lands each fall.
Fire wardens and hunters report the
forests as little less than soggy moor
ends as result of the almost con-
uous rains of ten days, followed by
be fog blanketingss which prevented
he water from being carried off by the
hum and winds and left it to soak into
he heavy mattings of fallen leaves
and underground. AS the fire wardens
say it would be little less than impos-
sible to start a forest fire at present,
and the indications are that with the
continued soakings the ground mat has
become little less than 1reproof, a
condition likely to continue until snow
falls. AS result, the feeling prevails
that the danger is past until spring
or summer, and that even then there
is little possibility of any serious fire
destruction, as the hunting seasons
will have closed and the forests will be
free OF shooters.
Game wardens point to another fac
tor as having tended to reduce the fire
danger this season. The opening of
the deer shooting in December rather
than in November tended to protect
the woodlands at a time when fires
were easily started, as there will be
comparatively few hunters in the tim
Der before the deer season opens.
Since the hunting season opened the
conditions In the woods have been
such that hunters found it almost i'm
possible to start even the little camp
fire, by many of them considered in
dispensib1e to complete their seasons
experiences and they have had to con-
tent themselves with the hot drinks
which could be carried in thermos
bottles or obtained at the homesteads
found while abroad.
In addition to these causes limiting
the fire hazard, 1t is to be remembered
that never before in the history of
South Jersey have the fire wardens
carried on a more active campaign in
prosecuting persons who without prop
er permits started smudges and fires
in the vicinity Of the timber Many a
man and boy has suddenly found him
self mulcted of substantial fine for
having neglected to secure fire per-
NIT before starting a blaze in the open.
Danger IN Grass Fires
While many of the forest fires in
recent years have resulted from camp
ires left by hunters, the latter are not
the only sources Of danger. Grass
fires are included as among the most
prolific OF all causes of forest fires. and
they are invariably started outside the
timber, but on its edge. No matter
how well soaked the grass belt be-
comes by continued rains, it takes but
d short time for sections of it to dry
out and become infiammable. Lighted
cigarette and cigar stubs thrown into
- have been known to start blazes
lat were followed by the destruction
costly timber.
During the past summer precaution-
~ steps were taken by the railroads
rossing South Jersey to free their
lghts of way of the great masses Of
hdian grass which the long and damp
hmmer caused to grow over consider
ble areas. For hundreds of feet on
either side of the tracks the ground
was cleared of such infiammable ma
erial, as well as Of the almost equally
dangerous growth Of underbrush. The
result is that the country goes into the
dangerous forest fire period better
Bafeguarded against CONGREGATIONS Of
hat description than ever before.
But If every preliminary precaution
rs been taken which the fire wardens
i'd the railroads could work out, the
eling Of security has not lulled the
mer into relinquishing their vigil
Ice. They are found scouting
und over what looks more like dis
swamps than pasture lands, in
edge of the timber. Wearing their
per boots and their raincoats and
ID with hookpoles, they plug along
ring many miles in a day and
surveys of their territory as in
their knowing the existing con,
rs and what everybody in the
s is doing when it comes to
ing of" programmes. In addi-
Ehey are in touch with, the more
q I. s1k~ .s<.A Axr& oil