Arbor and Bird Day Bulletin 



FOREST FIRES AND FIRE PREVENTION IN 1916 

 (From the annual report of State Forester F. E. Pape) 



The thoughts and views expressed, in writing and preparing this 

 report, are mainly from knowledge gained from thirty-five years of 

 observation and experience in the woods and forest industries of 

 Western Washington, and are based on practical, rather than scientific 

 studies of the subjects. 



My appointment as Forester was made on April 15th last, at the 

 very beginning of the fire season. I have been so thoroughly occupied 

 with the conduct of the field work, that little time has been found to 

 study literature on forestry and forest subjects, further than gained 

 through current news and magazine articles. However, it will be my 

 endeavor to acquire knowledge in all lines of forestry, and my earnest 

 effort to advance its interests wherever found practical. 



It is quite clear to me that the primary object of the forest pro- 

 tection law is the prevention and suppression of forest fires, par- 

 ticularly in the forests of state, school and other granted lands of 

 which there are approximately 875,000 acres also in a general way 

 to co-operate with other forest protective agencies in controlling fires, 

 preventing destruction of property, and patrolling the forested areas 

 of the state. Such has been the principal activity of this department. 



The forest fire season opened in the northern counties the last 

 week of May, requiring the attention of some of the field force. No 

 loss of consequence resulted, but much good was accomplished in 

 disposing of some large areas of loggers' slashing. About two weeks 

 later, following several warm, dry days, numerous fires occurred 

 throughout Western Washington, mostly in logging works, resulting 

 in some quite serious losses to logging operators. Only two of these 

 fires caused noteworthy loss of standing timber, one in Pacific county 

 killing 2,000,000 feet and destroying 1,000,000 feet, board measure, of 

 standing timber, and the other on the Hoh river, in western Jefferson 

 county, destroying about 4,000,000 feet of large, mature spruce timber 

 on state land. 



From June 21st to August 22d no fires of importance occurred. 

 The weather continuing cool, with frequent light rains, kept the forests 

 damp. Another dry period in the latter part of August developed 

 some fires. All were kept under control with no loss to standing 

 timber. The most serious fires during this period were in Spokane, 

 King, Lewis, Grays Harbor and Snohomish counties; losses were prin- 

 cipally confined to logging operations. 



The next fire of note occurred in Skamania county, September 14, 

 destroying camp property, logs and timber of the J. K. Lumber Com- 

 pany, and burning over about 700 acres of second growth timber. 



The most destructive fire of the year, in fact, among the few 

 serious fires in the history of Washington, occurred in Clallam county, 

 September 20th. It originated in the works of the Puget Sound Mills 

 and Timber Company, caused by sparks from a railway locomotive 

 engaged in hauling logs. It burned moderately until September 27th, 



