PROTECTION OF FORESTS FROM FIRE 307 



A second principle in back-firing is to burn over as 

 small an area as possible. The counter-fires are, there- 

 fore, set only as far ahead of the fire as is necessary to 

 make them effective. Very often, however, there is only 

 one point from which a back-fire can safely be started, so 

 that the fighters have no choice. 



If it is found that a back-fire is necessary, a favorable 

 point is selected directly in front of the fire, from which 

 to set the new fire. This must be a point where it is 

 safe to start a back-fire, such as a road, fire-line, stream, 

 or swamp. The leaves are ignited at points 5 feet to a 

 rod apart for a distance not greater than the estimated 

 width of the head of the fire. These small fires gradually 

 meet and form a continuous line, eating back against 

 the wind. 



A part of the crew is stationed across the road, or 

 other break from which the back-fire is started, and put 

 out at once the small fires which may result from the 

 sparks blown over from the back-fire. 



The meeting of the two fires stops at once the head 

 of the main fire. It is usually possible then to attack 

 the wings with the ordinary methods of fighting. It is 

 necessary to attack the wings at once, particularly if there 

 is a strong wind, for otherwise each wing of the old fire 

 would soon form an independent fire with a well-devel- 

 oped head. It is necessary, also, that a number of men 

 be stationed where the original fire and the back-fire meet 

 in order to extinguish smouldering fires in tops, logs, 

 and other debris. 



