IMPROVING FOREST FIRE PROTECTION 



Bv M. B. Pratt 



V|^TNTER is the time largely de- 

 \ I / ^'oted on National Forests to 

 ^^^ plans for the coming field season. 

 The danger from fire past, the char- 

 acter of the duties of the Supervisor 

 and Deputy Supervisor change from 

 active, aggressive work in the field to 

 a comparatively quiet, thoughtful time 

 in the office. Relieved from the con- 

 stant fire suspense, and his ears no 

 longer continually tortured with the 

 jangling telephone bell announcing 

 fresh sorrows, the Supervisor can now 

 think a few consecutive thoughts on 

 one subject. The question of protec- 

 tion is naturally the most vital one. He 

 reviews the past season's fire record in 

 his mind, and in the light of added ex- 

 perience, dispassionately sees things that 

 should have been done and things that 

 it were better to have left undone. This 

 may lead him to call a meeting of the 

 ranger force to help him get down to 

 essentials. 



In a meeting recently held at Nevada 

 City, the headquarters of the Tahoe 

 National Forest, protective measures 

 were discussed at length. Fire working 

 plans had been made for the past sea- 

 son for each district by the office in 

 conjunction with the district rangers, 

 and one of the objects of the meeting 

 was to find out how they could be im- 

 proved upon. It was the general 

 opinion that the plans were all right as 

 far as the}' went, but that it would be 

 much better for each district ranger to 

 prepare his own plan, giving his idea 

 of what he considered ideal protection 

 for his district, regardless of cost. 



In accordance with this idea a letter 

 was sent out from the Supervisor's 

 office to the district rangers asking 

 them to submit ideal plans for their 

 districts extending over a period of 

 years. Attention was called to the cir- 

 cvilar written by District Forester Du 

 Bois, entitled "National Forest Fire 

 Protective Plans" in this connection. 



ll was express!) elated that all \ie\vs 

 more efficient protection. The total area 

 no matter how visionary in character, 

 would be welcomed, since what might 

 seem a vision now might be a reality 

 in a short time, if the changes which 

 have taken place the past few years are 

 to be taken as a guide. It was further 

 requested that each man submit a map 

 illustrating his plan. 



An outline accompanied the letter to 

 serve as a guide in making the ideal 

 plans. This asked for a brief history 

 of past season's fires in each district ; 

 that all hazards such as railroads, saw- 

 mills, summer camps, stockmen, mines 

 and towns, should be considered, es- 

 pecially old slashings ; that improve- 

 ments needed for ideal communication 

 throughout the districts be specified ; 

 that the organization of patrols be de- 

 scribed in detail ; that the probable co- 

 operation in fire fighting should be 

 stated and that the cost of an ideal plan 

 be named. 



At the time set. ideal plans for the 

 seven districts in the Forest were in the 

 Supervisor's office. The task then was 

 to mill them over and evolve a second- 

 ary fire working plan for the season, 

 correlating as much as possible the ad- 

 ministrative with the protective needs 

 of the Forest. 



A RirrROSPECTlVIv VIKW 



In order to obtain a proper compre- 

 hension of what is being sought, the 

 first step in the formation of a second- 

 ary plan is to look back over the past 

 season's record. Using the areas burned 

 over as a basis, it follows that the 

 working plan for the season will be 

 made to protect these localities and 

 others similarly situated. The summary 

 which follows served to get the plan 

 under headway this winter: 



"The area burned over on the Tahoe 

 National Forest in 1911 was much less 

 than the previous season due in part 



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