Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-06

IN the forest Americans start with psyche
logical handicap.
He reasons that our pioneer forefathers.
PIT 10 i 20 clear the lands for crop and cabin
space often burned the woods as the quickest
way out Of their difficulty. Forests seemed
lnexhagstIble and woods burning was after
all something Of a public service. As a re-
suit he believes we have inherited an easy
going attitude toward forest fire and indeed
toward fire itself not found among other
people
Proof Of this inheritance he sees in the
way throwing lighted matches cigarette butts
and cigar stubs 20 The ground in parks and
public places and even on occasion from
apartment house windows has become what
he calls national habit"
In other words tendency not 20 be
overly careful with fire Is pretty likely 70
crop up In the average American. and 50
when one goes into the forest where lighted
match on the floor is far more dangerous
than one Is likely 10 be or the wood floor
of YOUR home his first care should be 70 set
a guard on himself Particularly is this true
when the young American goes into the woods
for the first time
Since almost everyone rides in an automo-
bile en- route 10 particular forest haunt one
Of the first things 10 keep liz mind. unless you
want 70 start a fire is this Don't throw any
thing from the car-put matches cigarette
butts cigar stubs and So on IN the receptacle
provided la the modern motor car and empty
the receptacle al the next stop.
Keep all papers and trash for the next
stop too In that way. youn build up-a
mental barrier against The kind Of unconscious
crime which caught up with a fire fipPeH IN
-f7r4fuur Creek region. Marquette National
Forest Michigan Forest fire ragged in that
open Iackpine country Two crews Of fire
fighters furiously digging away brush and
weed-grass 10 build a fire break or line
worked toward each other not far from az
county highway
They had almost closed the gap when
the nippers car came along The occupants
stared al the sudden sight Of the swrling.
cracking flames. The fhpper was shocked.
out Of harms way about 1000 feet on, he
stopped the car ard with shaking hand III a
cigarette Still preoceupied with the horror.
he tossed the match out the window After
he had driven on. that match as the foresters
found started a new fire more damaging
than the first beyond The fire line
Yoa can imagine can YOU not those tagged
ont fire fighters AS hey worked. sweat and
swore over that new blaze which nullifed
their toll on the first one
Matches in the hands Of thouehtless or
careless tenderfeet are perhaps the worst foes
of the forests. Sknfully distributed and used,
with weather and other conditions right for
"A holocaust the small pack You get with your
cigarettes or the box YOU buy for a penny.
Mi ht be sufficient TO burn all the woods IN
America.
one simple and priceless don't is:
Never toss away a wooden match which
you've lighted in the woods without breaking
IT in two with your fingers. Or paper match
without twisting IL.
You can't break the stick or twist the
paper without scotching the flame. Try 1t
sometimes before you leave on your Summer
vacation. not only to- convince yourself but
to help You acquire a saving forest habit
Right behind the thoughtless forest So
jouner's lighted match when one tries TO
dctermine Forest Destroyer No. L are the
lighted cigarette stub. the cigar bntt and the
pipe heel" Forcsters tell me lthey never
cease 10 wonder at the odd and unexpected