The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-01-30
fire ON FARMS.
Still SOURCE.
.OF Big Waste
Joe Whitaker Gives Warn
ing of Early Spring
Menace
BY JOE WHITAKER
County Fire Warden


To an>observar in an airplane n
few thousand feet above North
Csyolina's mountain counties on
almost any fairly clear and warm
day in early spring the farming
sections Of those counties would
probably look like snail scale bat
t'effelds. Columns of wood-snoke,
large and small. diff straight I'M
we.d if there is title wind, or whip
about in crazy patterns If the
wind is strong. And therein, as
the story books say, lies tale.
The burning OF brush o. debris
is legitimate and proper part OF
farming operations, within certain
reasonable limits. But, just as fire
is perhaps mans greatest tool in
the march of progress, so 1t can
also be his greatest enemy. And
nowhere is that more true than in
the case of the farmer. The fire
in his home fireplace and in his
kitchen stove is carefully guarded
to keep it within bounds, else it
will escape and soon destroy that
home. Just so can his brush-pile
fire or new-ground fire escape if
not carefully watched and destroy
other property Of his. Further
more, there is this difference-if
his kitchen fire gets out of coa-
troll, it probably will destroy only
property that belongs to him
alone; but if his brush-fre es-
capes, it has a good chance to de-
stroy values that belong to his
as well as to himself.
The proper burning of brush IS
no scientific secret - it requires
only the application of thought
and common sense. Successful
farmers everywhere observe few
simple rules, as follows:
/. Burn brush in small piles. A
of small fires will be mucn
easier to control than one huge
bonfire. '@
2. If the piece of land on which .
burning is to be done lies on a
slope, begin at the top Of the
slope and burn downward. Fire /
faster uphill and is much
harder to control.
g.. Choose for brush burning
operations day when there is
little or no wind and when sur
woodlands or grass-felas !
are still fairly damp from rain of
a few days previous. If the brush !
has been cut and allowed to dry |
out for some time, as should be |
done, it will burn in satisfactory !
maner even when the forest floor
nearby is fairly damp.
4. Do not set fire to brush-piles
until afternoon. By that time, you +,
will have been able to determine
whether or not the day is to be
windy. Also, the approaching
dampness Of evening will help to
keep the fires under control. If
the brush is properly piled in
small heaps, these heaps will like
ly burn out almost completely by
and the damp night air
will greatly lessen danger of the
Goals spreading fire to
areas. i
5. Have proper fire lines raked
down to the MINERAL SOIL be-
tween the area to be burned and
any adjoining area that might
catch fire. d" -.> 80.
g. Have sufficient help on hand
to at once put out any fire that
may escape to, surrounding woods
or grass fields.
I. If there are adjoining woods
or grass-lands, never leave a brush
fire unattended until it is pretty
we'll extinguished. Remember that
a sudden puff of wind can pick up
a coal no larger than cigarette
end and possibly start a trench
dous forest fire in q few minutes.
q s. If the wind picks up in the
evening and promises to blow dur
ing the night, use water or earth
earth to PUT OUT beds of Goals
and burning stumps. They can be
fred again next day, or as soon as
conditions permit.
g. If at all possible, notify your
nearest state forest warden of the |
approximate time you expect 10
burn your brush or new ground.
That will likely save him trip to |
investigate the smoke. Further
more, the state-owned fire tools |
he may have can be loaned to you |
to assist in your burning opera |
lions, provided you return them to |
him Immediately afterward. If |
you wish to have him help you |
IN 81 Tlh