The Daily Alaska empire., 1939-10-23
RAIN pREvENTS FOREST BLAzES,
 ALASKA DOMAIN
Report Is Made by Divi- sion of ConfroI-NeW
 Plans in Making

The report or the DlVlSlOn Of Fire Control for the 1889 Fire Season shows that light rains prevailed through the season, a condition ex- tremely unusual for the interior of Alaska This accounts, in part, for the fewer number of fires on the public domain as compared to fire seasons in past years.
 On highway patrols, 5 class A fires (area burned l4 acre or less) were brought under control by patrolmen and prevented from causing further damage. The CCC units in Anchor age and Fairbanks extinguished 2 class B fires (area burned, not more than 10 acres) adjacent to the two cities. In one instance one of the best stands of white spruce near Fairbanks had an even chance be- tween maintaining the status quo and becoming a burnt offering. A rancher firing brush for clearing allowed his fire to spread within hundred yards of a powder cache In these cases. as well as the others, had no action been taken the de- struction to timber, game, water shed cover, etc, would have been immeasurable.
 Inaccessible Fires
 Known inaccessible fires totaled 18 in number One of these fires ragged over several square miles of valuable moose pasture in the Tan ana Valley Flats in an extremely rtemote area, and was especially de- structicve A fire reported to be miles in extent drove prospectors out of a section of the Hog River country, consuming an untold amount of valuable timber and mar ten cover. Fires, like these, in 1889 alone, have caused losses in fur and timber, necessary to the develop ment of any given territory, that can hardly be replaced.
 From July 6 until September 10, three highway patrolmen covered a total of 14000 miles on Interior AL askas 2,000 miles of road. They contacted some 1000 or more min CTS, woodcutters, ranchers, and other residents in constant effort to in- auguurate the program of fire pre- vention and to enlist the aid of these residents in the detection of fires along the highways.
 Complete Picture
 Patrolmen mapped in roads and trails, noted areas of high hazard, timber and game areas, watershed cover deficiencies, etc, giving the Division of Fire Control a complete picture of the conditions on that portion of the public domain cov- cred by the patrols.
 The railroad patrol established through the cooperation of the AL aska Railroad, covered a total of 11,000 miles over a patrol route of 315 miles. Most steam trains were trailed at time distance of twenty minutes. allowing any fires started by the trains to gain enough head way to be easily spotted and yet not to become too large for one man to corral and extinguish. Daily contact was made with all section foremen and railroad employees along the patrol with the purpose of further ing prevention, detection, and sup pression of fires adjacent to the AL aska Railroad.
 Prevention Education
 An extensive reconnaissance trip was made, gathering data and for warding fire prevention education in the following districts; McGrath, Ophir, Takotna, Flat, Bethel, and downriver Kuskokwim points An other trip with similar objectives was made on the Kenai Peninsula, contacts being made at Kenai, Hom- CT, Seldovia, Iliamna, and Seward. Residents in both these areas are interested in the plan of fire pre- vention and suppression.
 The administrative personnel has utilized all available channels through which prevention informa- tion can be put before the public. The cooperation of all local news papers has been gained and their columns open for any discussion deemed opportune by the Senior Forester. The Anchorage radio sta tion, KFQD, made available all news items through radio broadcasts. Lo- cal organizations such as chambers of commerce, sportsmen's clubs, etc. have received talks on fire proven ton favorably.
 Booth Exhibits
 Booth exhibits were used to furth- CT the prevention and suppression program at the Matanuska Valley Fair at Palmer and the Panama Valley Fair at Fairbanks this sea- son.