PREVENTION OF FOREST FIRE LOSSES 



1263 



paying except l)y check from Washington and those 



working upon a fire would have to wait a month or six 



weeks for their pay. It was not uncommon in those 



days, in calling a man to fight fire, to be told he would 



not go because it took 



too long to receive the 



pay. Here is different 



exani])le : A bank 



cashier staying with 



some friends in the 



mountains, was asked 



by the forest ranger to 



help with a fire. He 



did so and worked at 



it all day. The check 



he received for his 



work was to him a 



souvenir of a novel and 



exciting experience. 



In the future, should 



this man be in reach of 



a forest fire alarm and 



be available, he will 



respond just for the 



excitement of it. 



I have been told one 

 loses his enthusiasm after fighting fire for a day or so ; 

 that the forest rangers in sections where the fire seasons 

 are long and intense, become so wearied they dread to 

 answer the telephone for fear the message may be of 

 a fire requiring mammoth exertion. It is true that when 



WHEN THE GHOST WALKED 

 Here we see the forest officers paying off fire fighters at the termination of the work. 



the body is weary, enthusiasm lags, but where the seed 

 has been effectively planted, a period of rest will work 

 a complete change as one's enthusiasm conies again to 

 the front. Those rangers at the beginning of the fire 



season are keen and 

 enthusiastic. When 

 they become weary by 

 overexertion, give 

 them a rest of a week 

 or so and see what a 

 change for the better 

 will take place. This 

 element of thrill is a 

 real factor; it pays 

 well to cultivate it in 

 all classes of men. The 

 response will come 

 from those who delight 

 in action and the at- 

 traction will be the 

 zest of matching one's 

 energies against an 

 element of destruction 

 beyond control. Effi- 

 ciency in management, 

 such as good and prompt pay, transportation, good 

 food and bedding, leaves the way clear to develop 

 this enthusiasm, whereas poor management in any 

 one of these things would tend to obstruct or 

 lessen this enthusiasm. 



FOR THE COMFORT OF THE INNER MAN 



This shows the thorough and methodical arrangement of the kitchen and commissary established near the fire line for the service of the men 



who are fighting the fire. 



