4 88 



Yearboo^ of Agriculture 1949 



be detected in a 5-year period. Fire oc- 

 currence is usually indicated by a num- 

 ber of broad classes representing the 

 anticipated number of fires per unit 

 of area. In this way the entire tract to 

 be protected is segregated into zones 

 of relative fire risk. 



A survey is then made to select the 

 best observation points. The original 

 selection usually includes at least twice 

 the number of lookouts needed and 

 finally chosen. From each potential 

 lookout point a map is made that 

 shows the territory within which a 

 small fire could be readily seen from 

 that location. A profile tracing is made 

 of each of these "seen area maps." 

 By comparing and superimposing these 

 tracings over the fire-occurrence busi- 

 ness map, one can determine the rela- 

 tive value of each lookout point. All 

 potential points can be given a com- 

 parative rating. Selection of the ap- 

 proved lookouts can then proceed in 

 a businesslike manner and towers or 

 observatories be constructed in prior- 

 ity order. 



Generally it is not economically 

 feasible in rough country to construct 

 and maintain a detection system that 

 will quickly pick up all fires that start. 

 That would require complete ground 

 coverage of all fire-occurrence zones. 

 On the national forests, for example, 

 it is considered that from 65 to 85 per- 

 cent of full coverage will provide the 

 degree of detection that is necessary 

 and justified. 



During the original field survey for 

 lookout points, other useful data can 

 be gathered: The needed height of 

 towers, character of structures, timber 

 to be felled, and the situations and 

 requirements of transportation and 

 communication. 



THE COMMUNICATION PLAN IS NEXT. 



In general, it does no good to discover 

 a fire unless the information is passed 

 on to those responsible for putting it 

 out. Detectors must therefore have 

 some means of rapid communication. 

 Usually this is to a dispatching center, 

 which in turn transmits the informa- 



tion to the appropriate initial-attack- 

 ing forces with any needed directions 

 for action. Consequently, dependable 

 communications are necessary; these, 

 as a rule, include an independent 

 telephone system, supplemented by the 

 radio. Commercial telephone facili- 

 ties are usually relied upon for outside 

 calls, as when a fire escapes initial at- 

 tack and additional forces from a dis- 

 tance are needed. 



The communication plan should 

 fulfill the following minimum require- 

 ments : 



1. Immediate communication be- 

 tween : 



Detectors and dispatching center; 



Dispatching center and initial-at- 

 tack forces ; 



Dispatching center and the ground 

 command ; 



Dispatching center and selected co- 

 operators ; 



Dispatching center and work crews 

 under the jurisdiction of the protec- 

 tion agency. 



2. Connection with other facilities: 

 Dispatching center and commercial 



facilities ; 



Dispatching center and centers of 

 supply for the reinforcements woods 

 crews, towns, mills, mines, schools, and 

 the like; 



Dispatching centers and adjoining 

 protection agencies State, other na- 

 tional forests, private protection agen- 

 cies. 



After the survey is made to deter- 

 mine the type of communication best 

 suited to the needs of the area, the exist- 

 ing and proposed telephone lines and 

 the other communication facilities are 

 shown on a map, with appropriate sym- 

 bols. The map, kept always up to date, 

 is the communication plan for the area. 



QUICK ACTION is necessary in apply- 

 ing control measures after a fire has 

 been observed and reported. Action 

 too late or too little often means large 

 fires. The answer is an immediately 

 available and well-trained, adequately 

 equipped, and properly supervised fire- 

 suppression force that can promptly 



