WON FOREST FIRE FIGHT 



593 



vance of the flames, this fire Hne being 

 about four miles in length. All this 

 was cleared out in one day's time, which 

 is believed to be about the record time 

 for such a performance over so large 

 an area. For three days a total of forty 

 men was at work, when the force was 

 then cut to fifteen or twenty. 



The damage to green timber is esti- 

 mated at $15,000, and in reproduction 

 at $15,000, a total of $30,000. 



While the forest service men don't 

 say much about the details of the fight 

 1 few meagre particulars indicate that 

 it was a fierce one. Camp was pitched 

 at what was considered a safe distance 

 from the fire, which, however, was 

 right on top of the bivouac in an amaz- 

 ingly short time, strenuous work being 

 necessary to keep the camp site and a 

 square mile of feed for the horses free 

 of fire. On every side of this square 

 mile the fire was raging. No serious 

 injury to any of the fire-fighters, how- 

 ever, is reported. The task which con- 

 fronted them is shown by the estimate 

 that an army of 400 men could not 

 have checked the advance of the flames 

 in the afternoon when the wind was 

 fanning it. 



The army emergency ration was 

 tried out at this fire but found unsat- 

 isfactory for fire-fighters while at work, 

 because of its dryness. Water had to 

 be hauled some distance to supply the 

 rangers and they drank gallons of it 

 Spellmire and Lyons, of Winslow, fur- 

 nished a part of the force of men at 

 work. 



Supplies and tools which had to be 

 hauled part of the way and packed part 

 of the way were on hand and ready. 

 Arrangements are now being made for 

 connections with the military telegraph 

 line which runs through this section, 

 and the installation of the telegraphones 

 throughout the forest for use on that 

 line. Last year there was no telephone 

 wire on the forest and the building of 

 seventy miles this year indicates the 

 extent of the fire protection measures 

 being taken by the service. 



The supervisor at present can call up 

 any of his rangers over the telephone, 

 but the telegraphone service will make 



communication much more complete. A 

 considerable sum will be spent this year 

 in further trail building and improve- 

 ment. 



The number of tree lookouts will be 

 increased and these will be supple- 

 mented with lookout towers with tri- 

 angulation to secure exact location. 

 How useful these lookouts are is dem- 

 onstrated by the fact that in another 

 district of this same forest where therQ 

 are natural points of vantage in the 

 shape of bare peaks, twelve fires were 

 reported by the lookouts and extin- 

 guished with a total expense to the 

 government of $50 and damage only 

 nominal. 



Six rules have been printed on 

 placards and sent out from head- 

 quarters to be placed in hotels at the 

 Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Williams 

 Santa Fe and other places where the 

 forest-using public may see them. The 

 placard is as follows : 



The Six Rules for Care With Fire 

 in the Mountains : 



If every member of the public strict- 

 ly observes these simple rules the great 

 annual loss by forest fires will be re- 

 duced to a minimum. 



1. Be sure your match is out before 

 you throw it away. 



2. Knock out your pipe ashes or 

 throw your cigar or cigarette stump 

 where there is nothing to catch fire. 



3. Don't build a campfire any larger 

 than is absolutely necessary. Never 

 leave it, even for a short time, without 

 putting it out with water or earth. 



4. Don't build a campfire against a 

 tree or log. Build a small one where 

 you can scrape away the needles, leaves 

 or grass from all sides of it. 



5. Don't build bonfires. The wind 

 may come up at any time and start a 

 fire which you cannot control. 



6. If you discover a fire, put it out if 

 possible; if you can't, get word of it to 

 the nearest United States forest ranger 

 or State fire warden as quickly as you 

 possibly can. 



