A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 1405 



woods and the punishment of carelessness, neglect, and arson. Forest 

 property, whether in private, State, or Federal ownership, must have 

 legal protection against the careless or recalcitrant fire setter. It is 

 true that even the best forest-fire laws are of little consequence unless 

 there is widespread public support for enforcement. But frequently 

 the apprehension of the vicious or careless fire setter will bring 

 forcibly to a community the first gleam of appreciation of the indi- 

 vidual's responsibility for care with fire. 



In the main, three different types of thought stand in the way of 

 local progress in fire control in each region, and unless they are 

 recognized and dealt with intelligently, all the physical features of a 

 fire-control program, no matter how well conceived, will fail to insure 

 success. There is first the group that definitely approves the use of 

 fire in the woods and shows antagonism to any fire-prevention pro- 

 gram. This attitude is usually founded in ignorance of the ultimate 

 effects of burning or else interest is centered on the advantages to the 

 burner without regard for community welfare. Second, is the group 

 that shows no interest in the effort to halt the setting of fires. Third, 

 are those who may, under careful stimulation, become the leaders in 

 the community's fight against fire, but who at present condone fire 

 setting as a necessary or unavoidable evil. Reasonably suitable fire 

 laws are already on the statute books in practically every important 

 forest region. Here and there they require strengthening, but what 

 is needed above all is an urgent demand from the leaders of thought 

 in each community for their enforcement. 



To insure continuous and effective fire control on State and private 

 land, the third step required is organic laws providing for active and 

 positive State responsibility for organizing and directing fire-control 

 effort on a State-wide basis. The States that at present are treating 

 fires as a common enemy and taking the full financial responsibility, 

 without dependence on private funds, are generally showing the best 

 results. 



The fourth essential feature in an adequate program of fire control 

 is the establishment of an assured and continuous financial support 

 for building and sustaining the protection organization. In all forest 

 regions funds are required for some or all such specific purposes as 

 fire-prevention programs, competent executives, a trained field force ; 

 capital investments for roads, trails, fire lines, lookout houses or 

 lookout towers, and other physical improvements; equipment and 

 tools for prevention and suppression of fires; and special workers for 

 suppressing going fires. Fire fighting is a technical task requiring 

 preparedness, specialized equipment, and an effectively trained 

 organization under a high standard of executive direction. It cannot 

 succeed with haphazard methods; with loose organization; with 

 unskilled leaders hurriedly assembled when an emergency arises. 



THE ESSENTIAL PARTS AND FUNCTIONS OF AN 

 ADEQUATE FIRE-CONTROL ORGANIZATION 



Speed of attack is the essence of successful fire control in city and 

 forest alike. Once a fire starts it increases progressively in size as 

 long as fuel is in its path and weather conditions are favorable for 

 combustion, and the suppression task becomes progressively more 

 difficult, more costly, and less certain. The ideal protection organ- 



