The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-09-22
DANCER INCREASES
FOR WOODLANDS IN
N. C. DURING FALL


RALEIGH - Summer of 1861 IS
fast fading away and it won't De
long until the leaves of the forest
begin TO turn brown. And when
that happens the States woodlands
face increasing fire dangers. They
burn quicker and they can and do
spread faster.
Nine out Of ten forest fires are
said to be caused by the careless
ness of men, women and children in
handling of fire in or near wooded
areas. Nature is responsible for
some woodland fires, with light
ming being chief offender.
Although forest fires generally
can be prevented, the simple truth
of the matter is that too many peo-
pie Just do not use the precautions
they should when they go into
wooded areas for camping, cook
outs, and admiring the handiwork
Of Mother Nature as they seek to
identity various species of trees
common to North Carolina.
For that very reason at least a
principal reason-the State of
North Carolina through its Depart
ment of Conservation and Develop
ment, the latter's Division of For
estry, and 90 of the States 100
counties have combined their re-
sources to provide an possible pro-
lection to the Tar Heel States
woodlands.
Cooperative Program
AS Of now, 17,276,soo acres of
North Cardinals woodlands, or
about SO per cent of the total for
est acreage are under protection of
the State and the 90 counties in
what is generally known as the
State-county forest fire control
program.
Under this program the cooperate
ing counties contribute varying
amounts annually to help provide
all possible protection for their in
creasingly valuable woodlands.
Counties not in this cooperative
program are: Rockingham, Person,
Forsyth, Davie, Mecklenburg,
Union, Currituck, and New Ham
over. Some maintain their own
rural fire-fighting programs.
There are about one million acres
Of woodlands in North Carolina
that lie within the boundaries of
Croatan National Forest in East
ern North Carolina and Nantahafa
and Pisgah National Forests in
Western North Carolina. These for
ests are also well protected against
fire.
The G & d Departments Division
Of Forestry, which is under the ac-
tive direction of State Forester
Fred H. Claridge, is well equipped
in many respects to prevent and
suppress forest fires.
Planes Available
Seven planes are available to.
fight forest fires and to spot
blazes in many instances before
they become full-fledged fires.
Three of the planes are Super
Cubs, largely used for scouting
purposes; two are water bombers
used to drop chemicals and water
on fires generally inaccessible to
ground crews because of the densi-
ty of some areas in which they oc-
cur; and two are utility planes for
general use.
these planes are very useful in
fighting fires, keeping fires from
spreading, and in detecting blaze
before they gain much Roadway"
Claridge said.
The Division of Forestry, also re-
ferred to as the State Forest Ser
vice also has rs graduate foresters
working with it in addition of
other personnel. It is the largest
of the eight divisions comprising
the Department of Conservation
and Development.
Long used by forest firefighters
are the fire or lookout towers. The
State has LA such lookout towers
located in strategic spots through
out of the State. These towers are
manned during the "fire seasons
in Spring and Fall and into some
Of the winter months by menand
In some cases women--who keep a
constant watch for telltale wisps Of
smoke arising out of forested sec
tons. These people, who generally
lead lonely lives in the towers but
who have the monotony of their
constant vigilance broken by the
messages coming over the Forest
Services radio network, are in
many respects the unsung heroes of
the never-ending efforts made to
keep down forest fire lesses.
They scan-and do--spot fires
miles away and their messages by
radio to County or District Forest
Rangers result in the speedy dis
patch of firefighters to the areas
where such blazes occur. This is
most important because forest
fires like those IN home or b11si-