The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-04-11

vice man in the department Of
agriculture.
fs)-John c. Preston, superin-
tendent Of Rainier National park,
department Of interior.
&C. =. Cowan. chief fire
warden. Washington Forest Fire
/ association.
f5)-Narren Tilton. West Coast
/ I,umbermen's association.
Secretary Of the committee Is
Hin Jones chief Of state fire war
+ dens
Conceived within ten DAYS
after Pearl Harbor and hold
Ing its first meeting In early
January. this COMMITTEES has
evolved q unique plan Of fire
fighting strategy.
Every fire-fiEhtins resource has
been utilized by the committee IN
drawing up this master battle
plan" against the hydra-headed
dangers of enemy incendiarism and
fifth-column sabotage. The plan
has been approved by the army
with whom the committee is work
ing closely.
First Line Of Defense
First line of defense, or perhaps
| IL should be called first line of Of
Tense since the secret Of modern
forest-fire fighting is quick
eountercharge before the enemy
flames can establish beach
head" are the men who are work.
ing in the forests -log gers,
rangers. cCc boys.
The loggers have all been di-
vided into fire-fighting crews and
have been furnished modern fire
fighting equipment by the private
operators. In recent weeks classes
in fire-fiehting have been held at
Shelton. Vail and In most Of the
logging camps In the state.
But IN. lorgers. handy as they
are IN the hattie scene and ex-
rerienoed as they are In battling
the FIRE demon. cannot he spared
for long from the more i'm
portsnt war effort Of producing
logs.
So the committee IL hopeful
that congress will see mt 20
continue the second battalion
of the front line fire-fighting
offense, the civilian conserva-
ton corps or CCC boys.
Senator Charles McNary of Ore
gon has proposed that all the CCC
camps be moved TO the Pacific
coast for the double duty Of work
ing around army environments and
providing forest protection. But
as vet the future of the CCC is
wrapped up In appropriation bills
in congress. Mighty important is
the cCC As they have a great deal
of equipment
New Crew. Planned
Third and new factor, planned
to provide protection 20 forest
areas where logging operations or
CCC camps are not nearby. are
crows ~ college and high school
boys who would work under the
state forester and wcald he paid
ree.slsr forest FIRE wages during
the Summer.
Fiasa~ing NJ thes> sswss-
geocy crews dep~od~ npen m
appropriations hill now before
ccngre~s which would provide
$4,000. 900 for fire protection
Washington's share Of this
would be ssll.o 900. while Cali
fornia. with much less tim
her. Is asking for $4,000. 200.
Already the state forester has
taken q survey OF the colleges and
high schools and 5000 young men
and boys have volunteered for
emergency fire fighting this sum
mer. Only 200 will be hired. ae-
cording TO the plan. and they will
be divided into crews OF ;. 9. ..
IL and IS men. They will be 10
Gated in the most hazardous areas.
Army 10 Fight Fires
Final factor in fire-fighting are
the army hsttalions. who have all
been furnished with fire-fighting
equipment and have been instruct
ed TO fight any FIRE they see I'M
less they are on mission Of
greater Importance.
Overall supervision ~ the
forest-firr offensive il lodged
jointly in the state and ma
tiousl forestry departments.
Who have over years n coop
Grafton learned 10 fight to-
gether.
Ordinary citizens. familiar with
fire-fishting tactics 81 several
wears ago. would Be amazed with
the modern mechanical freight
ing equipment now being used BY
logging operators
No longer does firs-fightinS con
sist Of building a fire trail around
the blaze and eonfininE ths fire
within this AREA 10 burn away 10
its hearts content That wss a
I policy az defense not consistent
WITH American rrefhnds