PROTECTION OF FORESTS FROM FIRE 275 



It is seldom necessary or practicable to make fire-lines 

 over 60 feet wide. Usually it is more economical to 

 make a number of narrow lines rather than a few very 

 broad ones. 



In constructing a fully cleared fire-line the timber and 

 brush should all be removed or disposed of to the de- 

 sired width. Where it is impossible to utilize the tim- 

 ber, the logs may be left along the side of the lines. 

 The brush and other debris should be burned. Piling 

 the brush along the edge of the line is a dangerous prac- 

 tise. As a rule, the best plan is to burn the brush in 

 piles in the cleared area, and then burn the ground litter 

 by a broadcast fire. 



In the best permanent lines the stumps are all grubbed 

 out and the soil is occasionally stirred by grubbing or 

 harrowing. Sometimes only a part of the line is cleared 

 to the soil. Thus, for example, the timber and brush 

 may be cleared from a strip from 10 to IS feet wide, and 

 a narrow strip or trace about 4 feet wide ground-cleared. 

 This cleared trace may be located in the middle of the 

 line, or on one side. A good plan is to make two traces, 

 one on each side of the fire-line. The advantage of the 

 last plan is that it affords a very good protection when 

 burning the debris on the line. 



The method of constructing a narrow, ground-cleared 

 trace, covering only a part of the fire-line, is very com- 

 monly used where there is a deep duff on the ground. 

 It is then a question of protection against ground fires. 

 Under such circumstances the trace amounts to a trench. 



