Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-05-31
FOREST FIRE Toll
WILL BE HEAVY
1900 MAN-CAUSED FJRRS =,
PREDICTED FOR SEASON
BY DEPARTMENT
Foresters on l61 National Rss.-,
Either Preparing for Outbreaks
Are Already on Scene of p,,-
CCC Aids Prevention.

Nearly 1000 forest fires resuu
ing from human carelessness ma
Pc expected In the national forest
curing l94O II American people nm
true to form this year. the s,.
service of the United States ~
partment of agriculture pred;ct
This view is based upon statisf;oa
records OF the forest service. wh;ot
SHOW that from 1884 through Ia9S
an average of $3.50 fires Voc
were caused by man.
Inc 1889 season was one of
worst on record for total nnmbo-
fires in the national forests H,,r,
beings and lightning ran a fairIv III
race in causing forest destr,,ct;5
Careless men, women and chiIJ,Y
were responsible for 8,462 forest III
WINE lightning, principal Offender
Inc western forests, caused 1868 lin
The number of man-caused fires
national forest lands in the aes,o
half OF the country was more IN
Twice the number on such lands
the west. iiuS
All national forests are intepsir
protected and thus have a much low
NUMBER OF fires than unprotected n
est lands which reported about las
forest tires last year and slstainl
about nine-tenthS Of the CONT
total forest fire damage as n roe;
OF human carelessness
Foresters on the 16l national fore.
are either preparing for the fire ss1
son or are already on the lob To IA
any fires that break out. In the sni1I
and east, foresters and CCC enroIIJ
nave oeen actively combating N
Ghht ,Ing the early spring fire seasd
activities anticipate a fire season WI
usually is worst in the summer month
SHOWS and winds Of winter montj
often cause considerable damage
communication and transportation a
cilltleS in the forests so that ford
workers have been repairing breaks
telephone lines and reconditioni1
lookout towers and cabins. Uninyit1
guests such as bears, woodchucl
pack rats and human marauders al
sometimes cause damage to remd
LOOKOUT and guard stations. 1t is q
Sential. the forest service saws. MI
fire protection facilities be fully mail
tanned before the first dry liphtni1
storms Of summer occur and the ear
influx OF recreationists takes place.
Forest service tractors and road mi
chimes are at work reconditioning III
breaks and grading mountain and foI
est roads in order that transportatid
may not be hindered when the m
season starts. Trail crews, common
called gypsy crews" already hal
started their rounds OF the forest trail
clearing away trees blown down
the wind and developing and strength
ening drainage structures to preyej
trails from being washed out /
freshets.
In forest service fire depots ar
warehouses throughout the west, radi,
and telephones are being checked I,
performance and conditioned 50 tn,
they can be relied on when vital con
munlcation is required on the SUNNI
IRE lines. Thousands of kits of fir,
lighting equipment and balanced r,
tons are being made ready for the II
ev1table emergency The mules an
horses which will be called upon
support the supplies to fire crews an
camps in remote, roadless areas ar
at the moment, in spring TRAINING
on planting and maintenance iol
after a well-earned period Of compar;
tive inactivity on the winter range,
Fire forces are hoping this year
peter last years fire record In 1893
the forest service had to combat
total OF is, 725 fires exceeding by mo-
than 5000 fires the annual averas
for the preceding five years. There
no way to stop lightning, but mar
caused fires can be reduced. the fore
service says. II human beings W!
learn not to be careless,