32 SEVENTH REPORT OF THE 



Forest Fires. 



Among the various duties devolving upon any forestry department, liowever 

 wide their scope may be as to silvicultural work or the harvesting of woodland pro- 

 ducts, there is none so im'portant as the protection of forests from fire. It is with 

 feelings of something more than ordinary satisfaction that the attention of the 

 Commission is called to the fact that, while during the past j'ear forest fires have 

 been numerous and destructive in almost every other State in the Union, the wood- 

 lands of the Adirondack and Catskill Preserves have been remarkably exempt, and 

 that the damage from this source during the past season has been less than in any 

 former year on record. It is true that the season was a favorable one, but it would 

 be unjust to the Chief Firewarden and his corps of assistants to attribute the 

 exemption to that source in any great degree. In no previous year has there been 

 so much intelligent and efficient work expended in organizing the force of fire- 

 wardens, in making judicious appointments, in dividing the various towns into 

 districts, and in properly locating the district fire\\ardens. 



From the reports received at this office from the various towns the Chief Fire- 

 warden has compiled the following summary: 



Number of acres burned over, ------- 7,780 



Of which the State owns, -....-. ^^^ 



Number of dnys' hibor fighting fire, ------ 1,498 



Value of standing timber destroyed, ----- $2,835 



Value of cordwood, logs, fences and buildings burned, - - $1,145 



As remarked in previous reports, the value of timber destroyed may seem dis- 

 pioportionately small as compared with the number of acres burned over. In 

 explanation of this seeming discrepancy it should be stated that a large number of 

 the fires reported occurred on waste or barren lands, on which there was no mer- 

 chantable timber and but very little tree growth, the ground being covered largely 

 with ferns, bushes, and berry patches. But the wardens are required by law to 

 report all fires within their towns, irrespective of the amount of damage, and so 

 these weie reported as well as others, the loss in such cases being placed at a nomi- 

 nal figure only. The greater part of the burned areas were situated outside the 

 Adirondack Park, less than si.x per cent of this burned land being owned by the 

 State. 



Of the men who were warned out to fight fire most of them received $2 a day : 

 some of tiiem less. The firewardens are allowed $2.50 per day while engaged in 



