The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-01-22
FOREST FIRES
ON SUPERIOR
Report Made by Supervisor
Zeller on Fires IN Superior
Forest.

Lightning started Is out of a total
OF 43 fires on the Superior National
Forest" according to a statement by
Crosby A Hoar. Assistant Regional
Forester, q. s. Forest Service at NIL
waukee, commenting upon the Annual
Fire Report received from r. A ZeIler.
Supervisor at Superior Forest Head
quarters in this city. OF the I158 acres
burned by both lightning and man
caused fires, lightning took a toll of
1,078 acres
Mr.. Hoar further pointed out that
compers caused 16 fires, smokers z.
were started from debris-bunin9. 2
were incendiary, and miscellaneous
Campfires burned acres, smokers Al
acres, debris burning acres, incendiary
28 acres, miscellaneous q acres.
All but acres Of the 1853 acres
burned were productive forest acres.
LII of which bore merchantable tim
Der, and a acres young growth.
Damage from lightning fires amounted
to 1886, campers fires, SIS, smokers.
$273, debris burning, 81, incendiary,
$481. miscellaneous, $500, amounting to
total damage of $4,632
Suppression costs amounted to IS 800.
of which $2,741 was paid out for tenn
porary labor. $2.541 for supplies and
equipment, $685. for TRANSPORTATION.
Salaries and expenses of Forest officers
amounted to $655.
Of tho tofc1
was spent for suppressing fires on pri-
vate land inside the Forest boundaries,
$l53 on outside lands which threatened
the Forest, and $2,574 was spent SUD-
pressing fires on National Forest land.
The cost of emergency guards hired to
supplement the regular Forest person.
mel, was 1891.
Considering the high fire hazard
which prevailed in 1881, these results
are considered fairly satisfactory. The
area burned was less than one-teuth of
one per cent of the Federal, State and
private land within the Forest bound
aries; much more favorable showing
than was made on some of the National
Forests.
Mr.. Hoar emphasized that excellent
cooperation had existed between Fed
eral and State fire wardens, and that
State wardens had helped on several
of the fires
Hydruplanes were used AGAIN 70
transport men and supplies to such fires
as were hard to reach by other means.
Private owned planes were hired for
this work. The Forest Service does not
contemplate owning planes or keeping
pilots on its payroll, since local planes
can be had when needed. Several fires
were reported by pilots who were doing
commercial flying In some cases these
fires were reached by planes and ex-
tinguished without ever being seen from
the lookout towers.
Federal funds to the amount of 81 600
have been spent on the Superior and
Chippewa Forests of Minnesota the
past fiscal year on the construction and
betterment of 80 miles of protected
roads and the betterment and con-
struction of 80 miles of trails and Dor
tage routes.
Trails and portages on the Superior
are mainly within the Wilderness area.
Mr.. Hoar explained and while they are
constructed and maintained by the
Forest Service primarily for admins
tration and protection, they serve very
great recreational use. Roads are not
being built within the Wilderness Area.
which includes about 1000 square miles:
hence travel must be by canoe or on
foot. The trails and portages are
signed for the guidance of the traveller.
Due to the high fire hazard this
season, it was necessary to require
campfire permits within the entire Sea
Gull Division of the Superior Forest
throughout the tourist season. Such
permits impress the need for care with
fire upon the permittees, and also keep
the rangers informed of the where
abouts Of campers.
| While the area burned within the
Superior Forest was less IN 1881 than
| it has been in some other wears. the
number Of fires was fully up to normal
Efforts to acquaint visitors to the
Forests with the danger of fire cannot
be RELAXED, said Mr. Hoar. Thousands
OF people go to the Superior every year.
Most OF them are careful with their
fires. and virtually al of them mean to
be careful, but not all Of them under
stand how to extinguish fire. It is
not enough to pour water on it. The
Goals should bp stirred oS the xz,o<or a.
poured, until every spark has been
reached and the ashes resemble a mud
pie. Then feel the ashes and embers
II they are ncomfortably hot they are
not safe to leave and mead mora ,z.-fo-