PROTECTION OF FORESTS FROM FIRE 



715 



are gathered and placed in position at 

 about equal distances, usually about 50 

 to 100 feet apart, ready for firing on 

 short notice. The number of fires burn- 

 ing at the same time conveys the infor- 

 mation required. Thus, one fire might 

 mean that a forest fire is burning in 

 a certain locality on one side of the 

 mountain ; two, in another locality ; 

 three, in another ; and so on. 



Another system that is sometimes 

 employed is the smoke signal. This 

 was once very commonlv used by the In- 

 dians in communicating with each other 

 from one distant peak to another. A 

 small fire is built, and after it gets un- 

 der headway, damp moss or earth is 

 used to deaden it and develop a heavy 

 smoke. A blanket or other covering 

 is thrown over the top of it to smother 

 the smoke down for a few moments. 

 The blanket is then raised, and a dense 

 pufif of smoke is released. The blanket 

 is again thrown over the fire to check 

 the smoke for a moment, then it is 

 again removed, and another puflf of 

 smoke ascends. This svstem also re- 

 quires a prearranged code. The smoke 

 signal may be used in the same manner 

 as the fire signal, by causing two or 

 three separated columns of smoke from 

 dampened fires to be steadily rising at 

 the same time. This system of signal- 

 ing mav be used to .good advantage on 

 a still day for communicating long dis- 

 tances. The separated fire signal on 

 top of prominent peaks can be used in 

 the night as well as in the day. 



The heliograph is an instrument 

 which mav be used for flashing signals 

 from the lookout stations. The Forest 

 Service has recently conducted success- 

 ful experiments with this instrument. 



Another svstem sometimes used when 

 the wind is blowing and the sun is shin- 

 ine is a windmill signal. A small wind- 

 mill is set up on some conspicuous ele- 

 vation. This is provided with a small 

 belt and pulley connecting with a re- 

 volving ball or wheel in which small 

 mirrors are set at dififerent angles. In 

 case a fire starts and the wind is blow- 

 ing, the watchman simplv connects up 

 his windmill with the ball in which the 

 mirrors are set. and goes on to the fire. 



leaving his automatic signal to flash to 

 the settlement the news of the fire and 

 the fact that assistance is wanted. 



In some cases it might be possible 

 to use flags and the code of the Army 

 Signal Corps. Near settlements the 

 fire bell, gong, or whistle is commonly 

 used to bring together the men for 

 fighting fires. 



The organization of an efficient 

 patrol varies under the following con- 

 ditions : (i) Size of tract; (2) charac- 

 ter of the forest: (3) condition of the 

 forest with reference to the amount of 

 inflammable material; (4) difficulties 

 of communication; (5) difficulties of 

 securing help in fighting fires ; (6) the 

 topography with reference to the 

 amount of territory which can be over- 

 looked ; (7) special sources of fire, such 

 as the presence of a railroad; (8) local 

 sentiment. 



Supervision of Small Tracts 



The supervision of a woodlot at- 

 tached to a farm is exceedingly simple. 

 If a farmer himself uses proper care in 

 starting fires, in clearing out his roads, 

 in disposing of brush, and in keeping a 

 careful watch for fires, his woodlot is 

 comparatively safe. Manv woodlot fires 

 are caused by the owner's own careless- 

 ness in clearing land, destroying brush, 

 burning meadows, etc. The fact that 

 the owner is careful in the matter of 

 fires becomes known very quickly in 

 the neighborhood, and that fact in itself 

 is a great protection. It is not neces- 

 sary for a farmer to patrol his woodlot 

 at regular intervals, as would be neces- 

 sary in the case of a large tract. 



Many fires start on the property of 

 nonresident owners, who themselves 

 are unable to supervise it on the ground. 

 Nonresidents may secure protection by 

 an arrangement with some farmer liv- 

 ing near the forest. The usual course 

 is to pay a small retaining fee for gen- 

 eral supervision, with the understanding 

 that the farmer goes over the tract 

 every few days, thus giving the impres- 

 sion of constant patrol. In case fire 

 starts, the agent has the responsibilitv 

 of repairing to the fire and putting it 



