The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-11
PLANS OUTLINED
 TO COMBAT FIRE
The Forest Fire Fighters Service Is Organized By
 State Forester Hawes
PROSPECT
 Rudells c. DrlscoIl. COrre- SpOndent - Telephone 5.O921

Prospect, Jan. 1.-The Forest Fire Fighters Service, unit of the Ohice of Civilian Defense, is being organ ized in Connecticut by State For ester Austin F. Raves, who has been appointed state coordinator. The spring is always 6 dangerous time for forest fires in Connecticut. Tremendous damage and confu- sion might be caused by incendiary bombs or by saboteurs or even through carelessness. The regular fire fighting forces of the State have been seriously depleted by men joining the armed forces or going into defense industries. The pur- pose of the Forest Fire Fighters Service, voluntary organization, is to supplement the depleted regular forces available to the forest fire wardens. It will be open to all citi- zens of United. States and friendly aliens, who are between the ages of sixteen and seventy years, and who are strong and in good health; men and women; boys and girls.
 The state forester has outlined a series of eight meetings for those who volunteer for the Forest Fire Fighters Service. Volunteers will be taught how to fight forest fires, how to prevent fires from getting started, and how to take care of themselves in the woods. Meetings will be held weekly for high school students and for groups of adults. Successful completion of the course vii lentitle the volunteer to a certificate and an arm band with insignia. It will qualify him to join an organized forest fire fighting crew, act as a patrolman in preventing fires, or act as an observer to detect fires. It will give him another opportunity ot help his country in time of war. Enrolment will be handled by the local coordinator and the local De- fenSe Council.
 The following subjects will be covered in the training periods:
 Use of hand equipment in fight ing forest fires. (The knapsack pump, carrier, pail, broom, fire rake and shoveD.
 Forest fire crew organization and | how a crew operates. Duties of each member of a ten-man crew and how | it works as a team).
 Where to attack fire (Surface | fires on level ground and on steep | slopes. Easiest places to stop fires).
 The use of power equipment. (De- scription of large fire and how to lay hose for power pumpS).
 Prevention of forest fires. (How would you prevent forest fireS caused by brush burning, smokers, children and incendiarism? Duties of a forest patrolman).
 Detection of forest fires. Duties of a lookout observer. What the in- diyidual can do in detecting forest fires).
 Rural building fire control. (Com- mon causes of fires in rural build ings and their elimination. 1ncen" diary bombs).
 Forest fire safety and fire organ ization. (Precaution to be taken m fighting fire. First aid rules. Organ ization of the State Forestry De- partment, the U. s. Forest Service, and the once of Civilian Defense).
 This course should prove Of great interest to the residents of Prospect with It's large area of wood and brushland.
 A meeting to form 6 local unit of the Forest Fire Fighters Service will be held Wednesday evening at Hotchkiss. local fire co-ordinator, 8 o'clock in the firehouse. Treat will preside. 4 state forest ranger will be present to explain the diff feFent methods in fire fighting. A large attendance is anticipated.
 Application blanks for enrolment may be secured from Treat Hotch- kiss and Carl Canfield.
 The use of extra gas for this vital service Is permissible.
 Wodln will be hostesses at c meet- lng Of Evangeline Circle. Salem Lutheran church. Tuesday at g ?.