THE USE BOOK. 159 



Fires caused by lightning are not rare, especially in dry moun- 

 tain regions. After every electric storm a special effort should 

 be made to locate and extinguish any such fires before they are 

 well under way. 



HOW TO FIGHT FIRE. 



When once a fire has spread over an acre or more, 

 especially where much dead and down timber makes it 

 very hot, it may be so far beyond the control of one 

 man that it is best to leave it and get help. The char- 

 acter and condition of the woods, the weather, the pre- 

 vailing winds, and even the time of day have so much 

 to do with such cases that general directions have little 

 value, and all depends upon the experience and good 

 judgment of the ranger. 



Generally the best tools for fighting fire are tha shovel, 

 mattock, and ax. The ranger should always carry at 

 least an ax during all the dangerous season. 



In a damp, heavj_fo&t, fire usually travels slowly, 

 and a few men, if persistent, can keep it in check by 

 trenching, even though they may not extinguish it, 

 ancT must continue the watch until rain falls. In dry, 

 open woodsTfre travels f astel^ and it is often best to 

 go~some"distance to open ground and back fire from 

 there. In handling back fires great care is needed to 

 avoid useless , burn ing ; therefore they should nevr_be^ 

 setTexcept by Forest officers, unless in great emergencies* 

 Ttefloight or the earlv^jnorjiinff is the best timejbo. 

 work, whenever any choice exists, for nearly all forest 

 fires die down, more or less, during_the_cooli)f_thejiight 

 a*ncT flare up again during the heat of the da^ 



Following are several general principles to be borne 

 in mind: 



