FOREST FIRES OF 19 12. 



The year of 1912 offered a great relief after the hazardous 

 fire season of 191 1. There was plenty of moisture during the 

 early spring months and the green growth had gotten a good 

 start before it became dangerously dry. In fact there was but 

 one danger period for the entire season, which occurred during 

 the extremely hot weather, the first ten or twelve days of 

 July. At that time numerous fires were started and a repeti- 

 tion of 191 1 fires was promised but fortunately, rains came, 

 ending the danger. 



The danger period was characteristic of the previous year in 

 the way of severe electrical storms and twenty-one of the fires 

 reported were described as having been set by lightning. With 

 the exception of 191 1 that is considerably more than the average 

 of forest fires from this cause. A peculiarity of the electrical 

 storms of both 191 1 and 1912 was that but very little rain fell 

 thus allowing the fires a good headway unchecked. 



Of the fires in unincorporated townships Piscataquis County 

 suffered the heaviest in number of acres burned, Hancock 

 County being second in acreage lost. Aroostook County was 

 exceptionally free from fires. A notable feature of the fires 

 reported from the incorporated towns was the small number 

 ascribed to clearing land which has been a great source of forest 

 fires, in past years. It is an indication that the farmers are 

 becoming more cautious and heed the warnings and examples 

 given them. Portable mill operators are apparently taking more 

 care in the running of their mills as only one fire of 1912 was 

 assigned to that cause. The danger of sending up hot air bal- 

 loons was illustrated by one fire but fortunately it did no great 

 damage. The danger of such balloons alighting in the woods is. 

 however, very great and some legislation should be passed pro- 

 hibiting the use of that form of toy balloons. 



