REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 89 



by the Columbia River, extending from the ocean to western Wyo- 

 ming and Montana. In most places there was practically no rainfall 

 at all during July and August. 



The efTect of the drought was to render the forests very inflam- 

 mable. Not only did the surface litter of leaves, branches, fallen 

 logs, and other material become very dry, but the thick la3*er of 

 vegetable mold in the deep, usually moist forests became like tinder. 



In addition to the drought, the past season was characterized in 

 many places by constant high ^v^nds, which rendered fire protection 

 exceptionally difficult. The smallest escapmg spark from a camp 

 fire or burnmg slash pile was often enough to start a blaze, which, 

 under the high winds, developed into a dangerous conflagration in 

 an incredibly short time. 



The most severe drought was in the Northwest, and there also were 

 the greatest and most disastrous fires. The worst fires occurred in 

 northwestern Montana and Idaho and in eastern Oregon and Wash- 

 ington. Severe fires occurred in California and the central Rocky 

 Mountain region, but the conditions were not as difficult as in the 

 North Pacific region and the fires were more easily controlled. 



In the Northwest the fires began to be numerous in June. During 

 July the}' increased ver^' rapidly, reaching their chmax during the 

 last half of August. The Forest officers were ordered to increase their 

 patrol and use every measure to extinguish the flames. With the 

 increase of the fires, it soon became apparent that the special fund 

 appropriated by Congress was entirel}' inadequate to meet the situa- 

 tion. Numerous fires were then burning in the Forests and every 

 day new ones were reported. The entire forests of the northern Rocky 

 Mountains were at one time threatened with destruction. Unless 

 the fires had been checked scores of towns and communities would 

 have been Anped out and the lives and homes of thousands of people 

 imperiled. I was confronted with the problem of either putting out 

 the fires or being directly responsible for what would have been one of 

 the worst disasters in the history of the country. Without hesitation 

 I called upon the Forest officers to stop the fires and to make such 

 expenditures as seemed absolutely necessary to accomplish this result. 

 Every source of help was called in. Temporary labor was employed 

 where it could be secured. The War Department aided by sending 

 troops. The railroad companies, lumber companies, and private 

 individuals cooperated in the endeavor to avert a great disaster. 



Early in September the flames were finally subdued. The fires 

 which could be reached by roads and trails were largely put out 

 through the crews working under the Forest ofiicers. Those fires in 

 the inaccessible areas were extinguished finall}* by the aid of timely 

 rain and snow storms. Wliile the aggregate loss of life and property 

 was large and the cost of fighting the fires about a miUion dollars, I do 



