The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-05-26
No Smoking
Rule Lifted
This Summer
Forest Service to Try Out
New Policy in Fire
Prevention.
OVER 800 FIRES
IN FOUR YEARS

MISSOULA, May 25.-The usual
big yellow mo Smoking placards
in Region Ones IT national forests
will this summer be conspicuous by
their absence.
In previous years, during the hot
dry weeks of summer, the forest
service has closed whole forests to
all smoking. This year, regardless
of how wet or how dry the season,
or how low or high the fire danger,
tobacco lovers will, except in few
particularly hazardous places, be
given full opportunity to enjoy the
privilege of smoking.
State laws and national forest reg
Iulations, covering the starting of
fires and careless disposal of s1nok-
ing or other burning materials, re-
mains in effect inside as well as out
side the national forests. These will
be rigidly enforced.
Foresters point out that the prac-
tice of smoking in itself is not the
cause of fires starting. The real
cause is = throwing away lighted
matches and tobacco - cigarettes.
|cigar stubs and pipe heels. Instead
of prohibiting smoking, therefore,
they will urge forest users to make
sure that all fire is out before dis
posing of their smoking material.
In the past four years the care
lessness of smokers has been ac-
countable for 300 fires in the ma
tional forests of this region, with a
total damage and cost for freight
| ing of $8l4,496. The fact that these
losses have occurred despite the use
Of the mo smoking" regulation leads
| the forest service to believe that
education can effectively be substi-
tuted for prohibition. Whether or
mot this is true remains to be seen.
If smoker fires materially increase,
| it may be necessary to again close
the forests to smoking.
The foundation for suspending the
smoking restriction is the belief that
no smoker wishes or intends to start
forest fire. The real trouble is
that people do not realize how in
flammable the forests may become
nor how long matches and tobacco
hold fire after they are thrown. on
4 the forest floor If smokers would
use the same care in the woods as
they Use at home, foresters feel
sure the number of fires would be
greatly reduced.
, In commenting on the new rul-
ing, Theodore Shoemaker, assistant
regional forester in charge of fire
: control states. 1.-THE forest service
/ has no intention Of relaxing its Wig
lance and will bend every effort te
t apprehend and prosecute anyone
] guilty of throwing away burning
S materials or starting fire. On thu
/ other hand, by removing the n,
4 smoking restriction we hope to hell
E national forest visitors enjoy TIN
r outdoors, and by giving them tn
privilege of smoking encourage then
: to take a more personal interest il
| preventing fires.
. Everyone tourist, camper
sportsman, stockman, logger or any
one else-using the national forest
is a part owner of the forest re
sources. Each one shares the re
) sponsibilities OF this ownership "a
| well as the benefits. What the for
est service wants and hopes for |.
! that every person using the forest.
will voluntarily make himself one
of its protection guards to the ex
tent of using the utmost care with
fire of every kind and teaching 9th.
ers to do the same. We believe tina
freedom to enjoy smoking will serve
as an incentive for everyone tx
make doubly sure thai he does no
start fire"