PROTECTION OF FORESTS FROM FIRE 303 



roads water is hauled in barrels or in specially constructed 

 tanks. 



Patent fire-extinguishers have also been used in fight- 

 ing fires. These throw a stream of water from IS to 20 

 feet. The stream is chemically charged, so that it is 

 very effective in putting out flames which would be little 

 affected by ordinary water. In practise a crew is pro- 

 vided with several extinguishers, a supply of water, and 

 extra chemical charges. As soon as an extinguisher is 

 emptied it is reloaded, so that there may be a continuous 

 play along the line of fire. In case of an ordinary fire 

 running through grass or leaf litter, one extinguisher will 

 put out 200 feet of flame. 



A very good method in fighting running surface 

 fires, where there is not much slash, is to make a narrow 

 trace in front of the fire by raking to one side the leaves 

 and other litter. As soon as the fire reaches the trace it 

 is checked and readily beaten out. Sometimes, on level 

 land and in open woods, a furrow is plowed as an emer- 

 gency fire-line. (Fig. 56.) This same principle may be 

 used to check fires burning through young growth and 

 brush, where it is difficult to get at the flames. A 

 narrow lane is cut through the brush ahead of the fire. 

 This gives a space where the crew can work without hin- 

 drance. As soon as the fire approaches, it is attacked by 

 all the crew with the various fighting devices with which 

 they may be provided. 



Sometimes the front of the fire is so fierce that it is 

 impossible to meet it directly. One method under such 



