44 FOREST COMMISSIONER S REPORT. 



derstood. To this end the following instructions should receive care- 

 ful attention. 



It is the duty of the chief fire warden to see that the district fire 

 wardens are fully supplied with printed notices containing the rules 

 .and regulations relating to the prevention of forest fires. Early in 

 the season fire notices are sent to all wardens but more can be ob- 

 tained at any time by writing to the Forest Commissioner. The dis- 

 trict fire wardens should see that their respective districts are properly 

 posted with these notices, putting them along each forest trail and 

 location frequented by fishermen and hunting parties. Durmg the dry 

 season when fires are most likely to occur, especially in the spring be- 

 fore the trees are in leaf, the chief fire wardens and their deputies 

 should keep a sharp lookout for any sign of fire and have everything 

 in readiness so that when the smoke is seen there will be no unneces- 

 sary delay in reaching the spot. Fishermen, hunters and campers should 

 always be cautioned whenever the opportunity offers, to be careful 

 in the use of fire ; to refrain from throwing lighted matches on the 

 ground ; and especially, to extinguish their camp fires completely 

 before leaving them. 



All violations of the law relating to building fires on the wild lands 

 of the State should be carefully investigated, and when sufficient evi- 

 dence is found the guilty parties should be arrested and the matter 

 reported to the department at Augusta. 



No instructions seem necessary here as to how the work at a forest 

 fire should be conducted, for it is assumed that each fire warden has 

 had ample experience in this respect. At the same time it may be well 

 to remember that backfiring should not be resorted to until its necessity 

 is plainly evident ; and even then, the entire situation should first be 

 carefully examined and well understood. 



It should be remembered, also, that in controlling a woodland fire, 

 one hour's work in the morning or late evening is wortli si.x in the 

 middle of the day. For this reason, if a fire is not extinguished at 

 •evening, the men should remain on the ground all night, and the fire 

 wardens should make arrangements to send in food and blankets to 

 the crew. If the men are allowed to leave a fire at evening and go 

 back to their homes much valuable time is lost. 



Especial pains should be taken to ascertain the cause of the fire, 

 and the person or persons who started it. Too many reports are 

 received in which the printed questions as to the origin of the fire 

 are answered with the words "Ca'.:se unknown." If attended to prompt- 

 ly, there should be little trouble in ascertaining the point at which the 

 fire started, and in most cases who started it. The facts then should 

 be written out fully in the report, no matter whom it may concern. 

 Each fire warden should discharge his duty fearlessly in this respect, 

 without fear or favor. If the fire warden is unable to report definitely 

 as to who the guilty parties were and their connection with it, he 

 should give his opinion as to the cause and who were to blame in the 

 matter. 



