Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1942-09-17
FIRE CONTROL
IN STATE URGED
State Forester w. S. Taber
Endorses Plea Made by
Extension Directors
CITES 1912 LOSSES

When State Forester w. S.
Taber's attention was called to
statements made by Agricultural
Extension Director G. L. Schuster
last week, he stated that THE in
terest the director has shown in
forest fire prevention is entirely in
agreement with the views which
the State Forestry Department in
its forest fire prevention effort has
for many years recommended. "
Taber pointed out that practically
all forest fires in the state originate
from thoughtless handling of fire
and that, according to the forest
fire records of the State Forestry
Department, there occurred, dur
ing the first eight months of 1912,
158 forest fires which burned over
1872 acres of timberland causing
an estimated damage of S16,665.
Worst in Twelve Years
Taber, who is also coordinator of
forest fire fighting service in the
State Council of Defense, said that
examination of department tire
records shows this eight-months'
period to be the worst experienced
in a like calendar period in the last
II years." THAT Delaware, during
this period was still in the throes
of the drought that started IN the
fall of 1910 and continued with in
creased rainfall deficiency, wind
velocity, temperature and sunlight,
rendered forest lands, fields and
marshes almost explosively infiam-
mable."
11.4 Acres Per Fire
Despite these most untavoraole
conditions, when any one of the 100
fires might easily have resulted IN
great losses, the size of the average
fire was held to la acres it was
pointed out. This is proof that the
men who make up the Forestry
Departments forest fire control or
ganization have done a superior
Job. Taber said. These hard listed,
alert, public servants receive scant
publicity, small credit, and small
pay, for the remarkable work they
do, not only in preventing forest
fires, but in extinguishing those
that occur, he continued. The great
majority of forest fires are caused
by carelessness, re said, stressing
that one who must have an outdoor
ire should first carefully prepare
the site so there is no possible
chance of the fire escaping; then
set the fire only where there is the
least likelihood of it getting out Of
hand.
No Fire i'm Morning
Prior to the issuance OF Army
dimout regulations, the State For
estry Department recommended as
one of the rules for safe burning
that "outdoor cleanup fires be
started only after A p. m. or the
burning done at night" Since the
Army regulation prohibits night
fires out of doors, the person who
must use fire for outdoor cleaning
UP" is advised toe onfine his burn
ing to the time between 4 p. m.
and sundown-never in the morn
ing or midday when the moisture
in the air and the soil cover is at
its lowest point and may easily re-
suit in the forest fire. 1t matters
little whether a forest fire origi-
mates from carelessness or incen-
diarism, for in either case it de-
stroys a vital natural resource
needed now and hereafter by all of
us, Taber went on. Protecting our
forests from fire is a responsibility
that can be shared by everyone and
it is gratifying to have the coopera-
ton of other public agencies in our
forest protection effort, he conclud-