Tombstone epitaph. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-current, 1921-10-30
PAGE THREE
LIGHTNING IN HILLS
START FOREST FIRES

TUCSON. Oct. 23.-That lightning
is a constant menace to forests thru
the starting Of fires is shown in the
report made public yesterday by Dep
uty Frank l.. Grubb.o the Tucson for
estry Office The figures made public
by the forestry Official show that there
was little variation over a period ~
three years in the number OF blazes
in timber originating from this
source
Lightning may not strike twice in
the same place although it strikes
with surprising regularity. as shown
by forest fire statistics just COM
piled by the forest service. The fig
ures show that during three OF the
past five years there were 20l, 19l
and 49, forest fires on the nationa!
forests OF Arizona and New Mexico
due to lightning. although during the
other two years. which were unusual
ly dry. there were considerably more.
This small variation OF only 10 fires
during the three years indicates.
according to Mr. Grubb. that lightning
presents fairly constant forest fire
risk.
However, lightning does not always
start forest fires since great deal #
it occurs during heavy showers, esp
cially in July and August Heavy elec.
trical displays during such storms are
responsible for many lightning-strrca
and often shattered trees. Fires rare
ly start at such times because OF the
and often the early part Of July how
ever. there are dry electrical storms.
Z The skies cloud up and there is
great deal OF lightning ard terrific
thunder. although little or lao rain
falls During such storms. many trees
are struck by lightning and 'orest
/ fires often result. IL is no. a. all un-
common for three or four fires to start
in one locality from storms OF this
kind and as high as ten fires have
( been known 10 start
Fortunate for the protection n the
forests. the forest service fire orcani-
cation always has sufficient warning
OF the coming of such fires. At the
first clap OF thunder, the entire organ
ization is on its toes ami horses are
saddled and packed with provisions
and tools. In fact. the rangers are
ready TO go as soon as fires are re-
ported by the fire lookouts.
+ Experience has shown also that
lightning fires do not at first spread
as rapidly as those caused by man.
Ordinarily they smolder for some time
at the base OF the tree struck. al
though when once the grass and d.
bris under the tree catches fire. the
spread is rapid This is why the rang
ers are so anxious to get to the light
ming fires quickly. Getting them while
small not only saves a lot of forest
from destruction but it also saves the
rangers u good deal of work. Data
collected by the forst service show
that. because OF this vigilance and the
queck action when lightning fires
start. Sc per cent of them never get
larger than one-fourth acre while only
IL per cent spread over more than ten
acres.
Man-caused forest fires. on the other
hand. ordinary spread more rapidly
, from the start and no warning as to
when ;hey will happen is given the
rangers These fires are, therefore,
, more difficult to get to as quickly as
, lightning fires and often harder to
, control after arrival. On the other
= hand. man-caused fires are generally
{ in accessible country. along roads and
r trails where they can be easily reach
: ed. whereas lightning may strike any
: where, often in country difficult to &C
cess Because of their more rapid
spread from the start, it has been pos
sibIe for the forest service to exam.
guish only A. per cent of all man.
Y caused fires in Arizona and New Mex
: leo before they reached a size of one
+ fourth acre Twenty-one per cent OF
n such fires could not be controlled un
Il til they were larger than ten acres.
i Studies have shown also that light
. ming fires occur most frequently ii