The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-09-19

thunderstorms, are being fed by u
to right: Ralph C. Winkworth of
Beaufort County forest ranger, ar
unusual number of thunderstorms
accompanied by lightning have
served to increase the danger of
forest fires in this section of the
State, Winkworth says. In fact,
he and w. A. Foolard, veteran for
est fire ranger for Beaufort Coun-
ty, agree that it has been the dry
est year in ten or more years. Dis
trict Ranger E. c. Ferebee also
agrees with this contention.
"They have really been burning
in our section of the State" said
State Attorney General Harry Nc
Mullan, whose legal residence is in
Little Washington" as the origi-
nal town named for George Wash
ington is widely known.
Governor w. Kerr Scott has al
so taken note of the apparent in
crease in groInd Of peat fires, but
as he said at Morehead City the
other day:
while they are bad, they'll still
have to go some to beat the peat
fire that burned barn at the We
mona Test Farm several years
ago"
Big Problem
The peat fires have created
quite problem for the public and
private foresters in coastal North
Carolina, where timber growing
and harvesting are big business
and definitely affect the economy
of this section of the State.
In listing the fire control prob
lem that has been enlarged be-
cause of the increased number of
peat fires in areas near valuable
woodlands, District Forester Wink
worth said:
l. Most of areas are very large
without roads trails or natural
breaks. 1t is extremely hard to get
to the peat fires with men and
equipment.
2. Top or surface fires spread
rapidly in open grounds.
8. When ground ignites, enough
oxygen is contained in the peat to
support combustion. Therefore it
is extremely difficult to extinguish
fire with water even when water is
available.
4. Fire lines have to be renewed
almost daily as the wet peat dries
out and becomes combustible.
5. 1t is difficult or impossible
to pillow lines due to soft nature
of land TRACTORS sinky and also
due to buried logs and stumps.
6. Since the soil shoulders for
weeks, months, or even years,
there is great danger of sparks
blowing over the line and causing
the fire to spread.
Z. Water must be pumped under
the surface so that the steam will
rise up to the fire. Water on top
will not penetrate but will evapo-
rate instead.
Swindelfs Success
1t is well to state that the fire
now burning on the Swindell plan
tation in Beaufort County is in
what is known locally as "Won-
derland." The name was given the
area when Mr.. Swindell took over
vast areas in the county and has
made it produce and pay.
''Mr. Swindell has done some
thing that some of the so-called
experts said he couldn't do and
that is make this land produce and
pay off," said Woolard, who has
been on the job as Beaufort Coun-
ty forest ranger for more than
20 years.
The damage from peat fires is
heavy. They kill all vegetables, in
GLIDING trees, and cause destruc-
ton of soil to depths of four or
five feet per burn.
Forester Winkworth and his
aides have evolved methods for
fighting these open peat or ground
fires, many of which are reported
ly started by lightning.
They first attempt to catch fires
when they are small. Then they
check its spread by blowing lines
with crawler tractor and heavy
fire pillow. A portable gasoline
powered pumper is used when wat
err is available. Sand or mineral
soil in canal banks is used as a
break when possible. Fires are
patrolled with shovels and water
until burning is completed
In extreme cases, the ground or
peat fires have burned under high
ways and in some instances col