FOREST FIRES IMPORTANCE AND EXTENT 



71 



has been widely studied by federal and state authorities during recent 

 years. An excellent plan of fire protection covering other federal 

 properties as well as State Forests and private holdings, generally in 

 cooperation with state and federal authorities, has been very ef- 

 fective, notably in the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rocky Moun- 

 tains, California, and Maine. Several protective associations have 

 made notable contributions in saving our forests from fire. 



Fires are being partly controlled in federal and State Forests and 

 in private forests. Fires have burned over about 41,000,000 acres 

 annually, or more than the area of the states of Michigan or Georgia. 



FIG. 36. Brush burning on Stanislaus National Forest, California, during winter 

 to reduce the fire hazard on logging operations. Slash left after logging consti- 

 tutes a serious fire menace in dense coniferous timber. 



About 63% of the total present and potential forest areas of the 

 nation now receives some form of protection. This represents defi- 

 nite progress over the previous neglect and indifference. Although 

 100% protection is doubtful of accomplishment, more effective pro- 

 tection should be given our forests and especially our farmer's wood- 

 lots and small private holdings. 



Over $5,400,000 are annually expended for fire protection on state 

 and private lands, or a cost of 1.29 cents per acre. The expenditure on 

 National Forests is over $5,000,000, an average annual cost of 5.72 

 cents per acre. 



