The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-02-25
Forest Fires Are A
Help to Our Enemies
State Forester KaylOr Warns
That Fires Mean Loss Of
SOrely Needed War
Materials

Forest fires, for which the spring
season soon will open in Western
Maryland, can in more ways than one
threaten our war effort beyond the
aid given the enemy by the destruc-
ton of essential timber, warns State
Forester Joseph T. Kaylor in special
announcement made today.
To permit fire to consume any part
Of our Western Maryland timber
stands. which serve as sources of pulp
wood, mine props, lumber, and fuel
wood. must, Of course, mean the loss
of sorely needed war materials and a
proportionate reduction in local
revenue But that, Mr.. Kaylor points
out is by no means all the harm
forest fires can do in the present
emergency. They could easily disrupt
vital lines of communication, like the
telephone and telegraph. The smoke
from a forest fire, moreover, often
makes it impossible for our fliers to
spot airfields for 4 safe landing, or
for student pilots to take off. This
same smoke impedes the movement
Of troops and war supplies. Fifth col
umnists may use forest fires as mark
cls to guide enemy bombing planes to
important detectives. Finally, there is
the DANCE, in which forest fires place
our Western Maryland industries,
most Of which are engaged in war
production.
Ninety-cieht per cent Of all forest
fires. says Mr.. Kaylor, are man-made
BY far the greater number in Mary
land can be attributed to the careless
smoker who losses q lighted cigarette
or match into dry brush either in the
woods. or as he walks or drives along
the road, and to the landowner who
burns brush without first taking
proper precautions to prevent the
fires spread. IN this time Of crisis,
every patriotic citizen is urged by Mr..
Kaylor to constitute himself or her
self a forest guardian, and in the
matter Of care and forethought set an
example in safety for others to fol-
low. He should be sure that his cigar
cite or match is out before he throws
it away, and that the tobacco from his
pipe is eXtinguished when he knocks
it on the ground. No camp fire in the
woods should ever be left until it is
entirely out Before he starts to burn
brush. the landowner should apply to
the nearest State forest warden for a
pamphlet which tells him how to set
out a fire without danger to his own
property and to that Of his neighbors.
Or he may obtain this information
from the District Forester, Court
House, Cumberland
Another Acknowledgment source OF
forest fires in Western Maryland,
namely, incendiarism, must also be
taken into account in the present
emergency, Mr.. Kaylor asserts. De-
testable at any time, in time of war
arson in the woods amounts to sabo-
tage, and should be dealt with as such.
We can not, says Mr.. Kaylor, trifle
with fire in a time of crisis, nor deal
leniently with those who deliberately
imperil our safety. The Department of
State Forests and Parks has received
from the State Police promise of the
fullest cooperation in the detection
and prosecution Of forest fire-bugs.
To meet in part the critical fire
situation, Of Office of Civilian De-
Tense, through the Department of
State Forests and Parks, has estab-
lished in this and other sections
throughout the State the Forest Fire
Fighters Service, a volunteer organ
ization open to ablebodied men and
women, young and old, between the
ages of 16 and 70. Such men and
women, organized into local groups,
will be taught how to prevent forest
fires, how to fight them, and how to
carry on in the woods. Successful
completion of the course will entitle
the volunteer to a certificate and an
arm band with insigne.
So far, Mr.. Kaylor states, response
by Western Maryland people to the
FFFS plan has been most gratifying,
but the pressing Importance of the
task calls for still more volunteers.
Application for enrolment may be
made to the District Forester at
Cumberland, or to any of the follow
ing District Forest Supervisors:
Urner F. Wigfield, Cumberland, Her
man D. Toms, GambrilI State Park,
Route 5, and Cecil Ramsey, Oakland.