The Winslow mail., 1921-04-22
NEW LAWS AND POLICIES
CONCERNING FOREST
FIRES

not entirely familiar with the State
law governing the matter of fires
that threaten the Forests, standing
timber range or field crops. This
law is as follows:
ANY person or persons who shall
wilfully and deliberately set fire to
any wooded country of forest be-
longing to this state, or to the
United States, within this state, or
to any place from which fire shall
be communicated to any such wood
ed country or forest, or who shall
lccidently set fire to any such wood
ed country or forest, or to any place
from which fire shall be communi-
Gated to any such wooded country
r forest, and shall not extinguish
the same, or use every effort to that
end, or who shall build any fire, for
lawful purpose or otherwise. in OF
lear any such wooded country or
crest, and through carelessness or
neglect shall permit said fire to ex
tend to and burn through such wood
ed country or forest, shall be deem
d guilty of a misdemeanor, and, Oh
conviction before a court of compe-
by a fine not exceeding one thous-
and dollars, or Imprisonment not ex-
eeeding one year, or by both such
fine and imprisonment PROVIDED
That nothing herein contained shal
apply to any person who in good
eaith shall set back fire to prevent
The extension of a fire already burn,
ing"
Forest Supervisor T. G. Hoyt, of
Snowflake, speaking of Forest fires
md the attitude of the public to-
ward the same, expresses gratlflca-
ton for the interest and cooperation
manifest by nearly all of the people
living on or adjacent to the Sit
greaves Forest but regrets that there
have been a few instances in which
considerable damage has resulted
from Forest fires occurring through
the carelessness or neglect of 1nd1-
yiduals. In putting on the tempo
rary fire protection force on the Sit
greaves Forest this year the men
are being advised of the State law
dealing with matters of this kind
and instructed that prosecution for
the violation of the State law will
be vigorously followed up. The
Forest Service as a whole is being
compelled to adopt more dractic
measures for dealing with those re-
sponsible for fires that do or threat
en- damage to Forest land and timber
In this connection each fire guard
placed under appointment hereafter
will be given to understand that he
hn od in, addition
of fires that occur upon
or threaten the Forest, to make a
showing of a definite effort to ascer-
tain the cause and if the fire is of
hnman origin to apprehend the per-
settlement for damages under civil
procedure will not be accepted as
sufficient unless such settlement is
found to amount to more than the
amount of the probable fine that
would be assessed in court
1t is indicated in the instructions
that employers will be held more
responsible than ever before for
damage resulting from men they en-
gage to work on the Forest. This
becomes necessary, Mr.. Hoyt states,
for> the reason that while most. of
the old employees are familiar with
the law and regulations and have
learned to be cautious with fires,
new men are being constantly
brought in without the knowledge of
Forest officers and unless the indi-
viduals who employ them instruct
them as to their responsibility for
care with fire they frequently leave
camp fires unattended or throw away
matches or cigarette stubs without
appreciating the possible results.
A new feature of the fire plan this
year is that each of the schools To-
Gated within or adjacent to the tim
Der area of the Forest are being
interested in fire protection by the
presentation for their consideration
of pledges to support the Govern
ment and state agents in the pre-
vention of Forest fires. A contest
among the schools is also initiated.
prize consisting of fine United
States flag will be given to the
school showing the best record and
greatest activity if the matter of
preventing Forest fires and educat
ing the public to be careful about
fires in the Forest In order that
small schools may have an equal
chance with the larger ones the
points will be computed on the basis
Of school enrolment.
A special flag is to be given to the
pupil in the schools concerned MAX
ing the best individual record.
A plan is on foot to instruct Boy
Scout organizations in methods of
preventing, detecting and suppress
ing Forest fires.