The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-01-31
Fire Protection
For Forests OF
State Effective

RALEIGH, Jan. 31.-t' i S
fire protection in counties organ
lied for the control of the Red
Demon" in North Carolina was the
most effective from standpoint Of
PERCENTAGE of area burned in 1882
than for any year since the favor
able season of 1929, according to
ian annual report issued by Assist
ant Forester Chas. II. Flory, in
charge of forest fire control for
the Department of Conservation
and Development.
During the calendar year just
ended, the report reveals, forest
fires covered only 1894 acres
in counties cooperating with the
State in forest fire control COM
pared with 308,317 acres in 1881.
The percent of area burned in
1882 was 2.S6 compared with Alp
percent the previous calendar
year. Area under protection drop
Iped from 7,483,639 acres in 1881
to 6,41,1563 acres in 1882, a de,9
crease Of 14.3 percent.
While total damages inflicted
on woodlands in cooperating coun-
ties were estimated at S62,963 in
1881, this had been reduced to
S388,723 in 1882, a saving of
I$144,240 or 27.1 percent in forest
values. The damage estimated for
each acre covered by fire in 1882
was $2.11.
The number of fires reported
in 1882 was 2,027. 1885 below the
figure recorded in 1881. This was
reduction of 37.9 percent be-
tween the two years. Conserva-
ton officials believe that this re-
duction in the number of blazes
in protected woodlands is q reflec-
ton of educational activities,
creating a deeper impression in
the minds of the public Of the
evils Of forest fires.
Mr.. Flory emphasizes in his re-
port a reduction Of 81 percent
from 1881 to 1882 in the total
cost of suppressing fires. Al
though the reduction Of fire fight
ing rates figures in the economy,
Mr.. Flory asserted that the saving
represent, to considerable mea-
sure, greater efficiency on the
part of the fire control organiza-
ton. Another feature Of fire con-
troll operation in which the assist
ant forester expresses pleasure isl
the greatly increased time donated
to forest fire protection by volun"
teers.
Of the total of 2,O27 fires re-
ported in 1882, only 7 or about
one-third of one percent came
from a cause over which man had
no control-lightning. This leaves
1920 of the fires started from
causes which were preventable
with the exercise of proper pre-
cautions on the part Of persons
handling fire on woodlands.
The leading cause of forest fires
are incendiarists, who were accus-
ed of starting $40 of the total of
2,027. An increase in the percent
of flames resulting from brush
burning was reported last year
over the previous 12-month per-
| iod, 442 having been recorded in
l1932. That hunters, fishermen
and campers are exercising great
er care in the handling of fire in
the woods is evident from a de-
crease in the number of flames
coming from this source, the per.
centage dropping from former
average of about one-fifth of the
total to less than one-tenth of all
the fires.
Careless smokers were still
classed in the 1882 report as be-
ing one Of the greatest threats to
the forests. This group is charg-
ed with being third highest among
the causes of forest fires, being
held accountable for 387 during
the year.
Each careless act resulting in a
forest fire during the year is held
accountable for damages to the
extent of 1892, the average
amount of destruction, for each
flame. In addition, cost of So
for the suppression of each fire
was enttailed. A total $16,517
was spent in preventing forest
fires from spreading and in their
suppression during the year, ac-
cording to the report.