CAUSES OF FOREST FIRES 



73 



the woods to reduce the inflammable material and thus to avoid serious 

 conflagrations at infrequent intervals, is practiced by some of the 

 lumbermen. Generally speaking, this practice has been abandoned as 

 it was found that too much 

 damage was done to the stand- 

 ing timber. 



3. CAUSES OF FOREST FIRES 



The increasing use of forests 

 by the public has brought 

 greater hazards and an increas- 

 ing number of fires. Human 

 carelessness is responsible for a 

 very large share of the fires. 

 Altogether, the number of fires 

 has increased rather than de- 

 creased in the last 25 years, 

 although the resultant losses and 

 areas burned have generally 

 diminished. Public education 

 and response to the seriousness 

 of the forest fire problem are 

 more necessary than ever. The 

 increasing use and occupancy of 

 forested areas involve the con- 

 stant need of fire for cooking 

 and warmth as well as for de- 



FIG. 37. Water pump used in direct at- 

 tack on fire. Many improvements have 

 recently been made in portable pumps 

 and hose. A small water supply may be 

 carried if water is not available in a 

 nearby stream or well dug for the pur- 

 pose. Wells have been used successfully 

 in the Lake States. 



stroying accumulated debris and 



for proper land clearing and logging. Through human carelessness or 

 intent, many fires are started. Lightning is the only natural cause. 

 The causes of fire during a five-year average in our National 

 Forests is shown as follows: 



CAUSES 



Lightning 



Smokers 



Incendiarism . 

 Camp fires . . . 

 Debris burning 

 Railroads .... 

 Lumbering . . . 

 Miscellaneous 



PER CENT OF TOTAL 

 NUMBER OP FIRES 

 41.02 

 21.50 

 14.59 

 10.24 



4.30 



2.15 



125 



4.95 



Total .. 



100.00 



