WASHINGTON FOREST FIRE ASSOCIATION :: :: Seven 



of timber lands and as this is supposed to include all lands carrying 

 a certain amount of timber averaging a minimum of 1,000,000 feet 

 to the quarter section, in some counties this minimum is less in 

 others somewhat larger it may safely be taken as an indication 

 of the actual area of timber in this territory now in private hands, 

 a small portion of which is located within the boundaries of the 

 National Forest. 



The Washington Forest Fire Association is supported by a mem- 

 bership contributing on 2,586,409 acres, leaving practically 1,170,000 

 acres of timber lands, the owners of which are reaping the benefit 

 of the Association's work without cost to themselves. Individual 

 patrol is maintained by a few timber owners whose holdings are in 

 such compact shape that separate patrol is practicable, but most of 

 the non-contributing area is scattered in and amongst the holdings of 

 the Association and so widely separated that individual patrol of the 

 timber is impracticable. Not exactly from choice, but rather for self- 

 protection, these tracts must therefore be taken care of by the Asso- 

 ciation and included within the Association's patrol. Laws have been 

 passed in other states which compel timber owners to either indi- 

 vidually or by co-operation maintain an effective patrol system during 

 the dangerous season of the year. It has been hoped that timber 

 owners in Washington would voluntarily either contribute to existing 

 protective organizations or, if preferred, where practicable maintain 

 their own patrol system and thus avoid the necessity of compulsion 

 and for this reason it was deemed inadvisable to push a bill intro- 

 duced in the last Legislature which provided for compulsory patrol 

 along the lines adopted in the State of Oregon. 



That the co-operative organizations for forest protection against 

 fire, as now maintained by timber owners in most every timbered state 

 in the Union, have proved great factors in helping to minimize the 

 danger from forest fires is conceded, and it is evident that these 

 organizations have come to stay. Considering the small cost of keeping 

 such organizations going, particularly in Western Washington where 

 the assessments have in no one year exceeded two cents per acre, 

 which can by no means be considered a burden to anyone, there 

 appears to be no reason why everyone interested should not do his 

 bit without being compelled by law to do so. 



Although the number of patrolmen employed by the various 

 protective agencies, state and private, have been increased in late 

 years, it is obvious that a still greater force ought to be employed 



