The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-09-06
BE Careful Of
FIRES THIS FALL


ton department is up against one of
the most menacing conditions in years
and that public cooperation is abso-
lutely necessary to prevent disaster,
is the gist Of statement issued for
publication Monday by G. NJ Comet,
state commissioner of forestry and fire
prevention.
I'VE feel that We are right now I'D
against one of the worst fire seasons
that this state has experienced in a
good many years, and we would like
all warning possible before the public.
1t will take the best efforts of every
citizen of the state to prevent a dis
aster this fall if the present high fire
hazard continues.
There has been a great deal of
criticism Of this department as wei
as newspapers from business men
throughout the North, claiming that
the fire publicity is doing them
great deal of injury, particularly as 1t
applies to the travelling public. But
we feel that any news warning folks
OF the danger is due the public at
this time"
A letter to township fire wardens
and fire protective co-operators, which
accompanied the statement, has the
following to say:
you no doubt realize as fully as
we do that this is one of the driest
seasons and the most hazardous fire
weather that this state has expert
enced for many, many years. Fires
that generally should not burn over
an acre of two in a day under ordi-
nary years now spread to 100 to 1000
acres the first day, and their control
Is often uncertain at night.
The forest service has been called
upon to fight fire and keep on duty
almost full force of men ever since
the fore part of April The amount
OF finance available viii not be any,
where near sufficient for the protect
ing OF the settlers in the northern
part of the state if the present con-
ditions continue. The only possibility
OF protecting these areas lies in the
preventing of the starting of fires
You are deemed by us as one of
the leading men in your community,
and we hope that you will do every
thing in your power to encourage or
persuade folks not to do any burn
ing of any kind at this time, and to
get the quickest action possible on
every smoke or fire that you see.
I'VE have requested the discon-
tinuing Of the issuing of burning
permits, and hope that you can also
encourage people not to burn at this
time, even though they feel they have
an effective frebreak. Fires viii hold
In the. ground indefinitely during this
dry weather, and are apt to sooner Or
later fan up and get away. Also,
even though person is burning with
very effective firebreak and is en-
tlrely within the law, it makes other
people who have not such safe con-
oltions feel that they are being dis
eliminated aginst, so we hope that
all persons viii assist in the cause
by not doing an burning whatever
until the weather is safe again"
The ground is so dry that it win
take a large amount of rain to make
it safe for burning, so that persons
should be very careful about start
ing fires after rains, even though the
moisture may seem sufficient. When
the ground get as dry as it is now
an ordinary rain rarely goes into the
dry duff over an inch. Any brush pile
fire or camp fire win burn through
this moisture and into the dry ground
and sooner or later spread as forest
fire.
We are getting a large number of
fires caused by children playing with
matches, little campfires and other
playful sources.
They are probably not starting any
more OF these this year than usual.
but the woods and grass is so terribly
dry that these fires get away. We
would very much appreciate any pub
hcity that you can give your neighbors
or any warning you can give to chill
dren regarding the playing with fires