FOREST PROTECTION. 151 



falls, it forms an almost impassable barrier, which remains 

 in this state until decay and repeated fires, extending 

 over a long series of years, finally destroy the trees, and 

 perhaps get the land into condition for a new growth. 



Causes of Forest Fires. The only natural causes of 

 forest fires are friction and lightning, both of which occa- 

 sionally start fires in dead trees, but as such fires are most 

 likely to be set during a rain they seldom do much damage. 

 Practically all the injurious forest fires that have devas- 

 tated the forested part of this country have resulted in- 

 directly either from a lack of appreciation of the damage 

 done by them or from carelessness and ignorance. In 

 the disastrous Hinckley fire of 1894, the damage was done 

 by a large fire formed by the combination of several 

 small fires that were allowed to smoulder in the swamps 

 near Hinckley for a week or more, which, when fanned 

 by a dry, hot wind, attained an irresistible energy. If 

 there had been a fire law that could have been properly 

 enforced at that time, or if the people near Hinckley had 

 been aware of their danger, that great fire, with its at- 

 tendant great loss of life and property, need not have 

 occurred. 



Fires Often Escape from Settlers when they are clearing 

 land, and are sometimes started by them to make pasture 

 for their stock. The careless use of fire by the hunters, 

 prospectors, and others who camp in the forest and leave 

 their camp-fires un extinguished is another common cause 

 of fires. Railroads set many fires, and should be required 

 to more rigidly conform to the law requiring them to 

 use spark-arresters and to keep their right of way free 

 from combustible material. 



The moral effect of a properly enforced forest-fire law 

 is not only very great in restraining the careless, but 

 especially in educating law-abiding citizens in the idea 

 that there is value in young seedlings and timber trees. 



