WHAT PROTECTIVE CO/OPERATION DID 



By E, T, ALLEN 

 Forester of the Northwestern Forestry and Conservation Association 



(The success with which the affihated private fire protective associations of the Pacific 

 Northwest met the difficult situation thrust upon them by the menacing fires throughout the 

 region makes a remarkable showing. Scarcely less noteworthy is the fact that this success 

 was due, first, to the example of the Forest Service, whose methods arc closely followed by 

 the associations, and second, to a liberal policy of spending money in order to get results. 

 The private co-operators spend from one to ten times as much on fire protection alone as 

 the Government spends for the entire administration of the national forests. — Ed.) 



PRINCIPLES OF PROTECTION 



The Pacific Northwest suffers from 

 fire exactly in the measure that as a 

 whole or locally it ignores the two basic 

 essentials of prevention — respect for 

 fire laws and preparedness for emerg- 

 ency. 



Excepting the comparatively few 

 caused by lightning, every forest fire 

 results from malice or avoidable care- 

 lessness. Either is criminal, prohibited 

 by laws entitled to the respect and en- 

 forcement accorded laws against theft 

 or inurder. With means of securing 

 such respect and enforcement, we 

 should have little fire trouble. 



Every fire, however caused, is small 

 enough at first to be easily put out. 

 With an adequate force of trained, vigi- 

 lant men, furnished proper transporta- 

 tion, means of communication, and 

 equipment, fires in the forest do not be- 

 come forest fires. Patrol is essential, 

 and is effectual in the measure of its 

 organization and facilities. 



These proven axioms are recognized 

 by the Forest Service, which proceeds 

 accordingly, as far as wholly inade- 

 quate funds permit, in protecting the 

 national forests. 



Outside the national forests these ax- 

 ioms are not recognized, or at least not 

 applied, by state or public to a degree 

 even approaching that necessary to pro- 

 tect lives, property, and public welfare 

 generally. This lack of defensive prep- 

 aration results in tremendous injury to 



the conmiunity every year, and in ab- 

 normal years, of which 1910 is only one 

 example, invites irretrievable disaster. 



PRIVATE ASSOCIATIONS 



While the interest of private owners 

 in forest protection is no more direct or 

 great than that of the community, it is 

 more promptly realized. In the Pacific 

 Northwest, especially in Idaho, Wash- 

 ington, and Oregon, private owners of 

 forest land have consequently gone even 

 farther than the Government, and very 

 much farther than the states or the 

 public, in the installation of protective 

 systems. Their methods are practically 

 identical with those of the Forest Ser- 

 vice, making patrol the main point, sup- 

 plemented by fire fighting, trail and 

 telephone building, etc. The expense is 

 largely borne by co-operation, pro rated 

 on the basis of acreage owned, although 

 many owners do much independent 

 work also. 



There are about ten of these co-oper- 

 ative associations, among the largest 

 being the Coeur d'Alene, Clearwater, 

 Pend 'Oreille, and Potlach Timber 

 Protective Associations in Idaho ; the 

 Washington Forest Fire Association, 

 and the Oregon Forest Fire Associa- 

 tion. They affiliate for many central 

 purposes in the Western Forestry and 

 Conservation Association, which is a 

 grand lodge for all such organizations 

 and for conservation associations in the 

 five states from Montana to California. 



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