338 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



to a more favorable season, but chiefly 

 to the plans worked out in advance for 

 of private and public land burned over 

 was 3,900 acres as compared with 17,- 

 000 acres last year. Last year approxi- 

 mately thirty-five million feet of timber 

 was destroyed valued at $70,000, this 

 year 750,000 feet valued at $1,500. 

 Last year 1.3 per cent of the total area 

 of the Forest was burned over, this 

 year .003 per cent. Our total number 

 of fires this season was 69 as compared 

 to 77 last season. Although we did 

 not succeed in materially reducing the 

 number of fires by more efficient pro- 

 tection yet we did succeed in greately 

 reducing the area covered and conse- 

 quent damage. 



"We have learned that there is a 

 zone of special fire danger on the west 

 slope of the Sierra Nevadas which must 

 be under constant surveillance during 

 the fire season. In this zone fire spreads 

 with great rapidity and rapid action is 

 imperative. The portion of the Forest 

 on the east slope does not cause so 

 much concern. It is believed that the 

 protective system now in force there 

 needs very little adjustment to make it 

 ideal in character. The plan, therefore, 

 deals chiefly with the requirements in 

 the special fire zone on the west slope 

 which reaches to an elevation of about 

 5,500 feet. It is here that we want to 

 spend the most of our money the com- 

 ing season." 



TABULATION OF DANGER SPOTS 



Having taken a general survey of 

 the situation it is next necessary to get 

 down to details and locate the danger 

 spots by districts. The ideal plans, of 

 course, are very explicit in this regard. 

 The secondary plan needs to be specific 

 only as far as it is necessary to bring 

 out spots for which protective measures 

 must be devised. 



First consideration is given to the 

 areas traversed by railroads and trac- 

 tion engines. For instance it is noted 

 that the Southern Pacific Railroad 

 crosses the Forest from east to west 

 and that trouble in the past has been 

 experienced from fires along the right 

 of way. The snow sheds on the west 



side of the summit of the Sierra Nevada 

 Mountains are commanded by a rail- 

 road lookout man who could cooperate 

 with Forest officials by reporting fires 

 outside the railroad right of way. 



It is noted in another district that 

 tractions operated by a certain lumber 

 company started three large fires the 

 past season and caused the Forest Serv- 

 ice considerable expense to keep them 

 outside the Forest. 



Sawmills are located by districts and 

 the observation made that the mills in 

 the districts on the west slope where 

 danger from fire is the greatest, are 

 small. Consequently, on account of 

 frequent loose methods of operation, 

 they are greater danger spots. 



Construction and wood camps are re- 

 corded as well as the localities where 

 greatest hazards exist from mines and 

 settlers. Special emphasis is placed 

 upon certain settlements as being the 

 strongholds of "light burning" enthu- 

 siasts. Occasionally the areas were 

 prepared for burning, but very often 

 fires were set by settlers in brushy areas 

 with little regard to the consequences. 

 One culprit became so bold that he 

 entered the ranger's camp who was 

 trying to apprehend him and stole his 

 provisions. 



Under this head planting and ex- 

 perimental areas as well as localities 

 containing heavy stands of government 

 timber are considered. The greatest 

 attention is paid to the location of old 

 slashings which are considered to re- 

 quire the most intensive protection. 

 This is especially true when they are 

 located on the west slope within the 

 fire danger zone before mentioned. 



The relative importance of these 

 danger areas is determined in the light 

 of what happened the past season and 

 is kept in mind continually until the 

 method of control is finally worked out. 

 To assist in this matter a large map is 

 kept in the office on which is recorded 

 by years all Class C fires since the 

 Forest was established, as well as the 

 slashings and chief danger spots. At 

 the end of the fire season each year this 

 map receives fresh ornamentation. It 

 affords much food for reflection, be- 

 sides serving as a source of inspiration. 



