78 



Canadian Forcstr}) Journal, February, 1919 



A HIGHER STANDARD FOR FIRE RANGERS. 



Prince Albert, January 20. 



In order that the Dominion of Canada may 

 recover from the financial strain, which the 

 burden of war has imposed, it will be necessary 

 to develop the latent resources of the Dominion 

 much more rapidly than would otherwise have 

 been found necessary. 



Canada is faced with a debt of approximately 

 one and a half billion dollars, and an annual 

 budget of three hundred and fifty millions, to be 

 met with increased taxation. It is therefore 

 evident that we must guard and protect our 

 natural resources from devastation if we are 

 going to meet our liabilities and reap the full 

 harvest in revenue from this source of our in- 

 come. The development of our timber resources 

 will play a prominent part in assisting to settle 

 our indebtedness. The revenue, however, de- 

 rived from this natural product will depend to a 

 considerable extent on fire protection. It has 

 been estimated that the amount of timber de- 

 stroyed by fire in Canada, is ten times that which 

 has been taken out by lumbermen. It is w^ith 

 particular reference to the protection of our 

 timber from destruction by fire that I wish to 

 deal. The colossal devastation of the past is now 

 a matter of history, which indicates that in those 

 days we did not fully appreciate our heritage, 

 and it is questionable today whether we have 

 benefited from this experience, and are fully 

 prepared to meet this demon of the forest in such 

 a manner that forest fires will become a thing 

 of the past. 



The Temporary Ranger. 



The policy followed durmg this war was 

 "conservation of our resources," if we were to 

 meet with ultimate success; wanton waste was 

 considered a criminal offense. Therefore it is 

 no longer necessary to adopt the apologetic 

 attitude in asking for the recognition of fire pro- 

 tection, and such legislation that will bring the 

 careless setting out of clearing fires under the 

 same category as Arson. The enactment of 

 suitable laws however, will not furnish the de- 

 sired protection, unless provision is made for the 

 necessary machinery to administer the law. In 

 these days of reconstruction and evolution, 

 would it not be wise policy to take stock and 

 overhaul our fire protection organization to meet 

 the future developments and the advance of 

 more modern methods? The average fire ranger 

 is a temporary employee, engagd for the summer 

 months, with few opportunities of advancement. 



and discarded in the fall. Employment under 

 the above conditions naturally does not attract 

 men of a progressive mind, or encourage these 

 men to take the desired interest in the work, 

 which is so essential to the success of any organi- 

 zation. The average area allotted to each fire 

 ranger is large enough to warrant retaining his 

 services permanently, figured on the basis of fire 

 insurance, according to the value of the stand of 

 timber he is protecting. The modern Fire 

 Ranger is a member of a new profession, de- 

 manding practical experience and technical 

 knowledge of many engineering sciences, ability 

 to command men and to enforce the law and 

 enlist public co-operation. Men with the above 

 necessary qualifications will not accept employ- 

 ment of a temporary nature. The engaging of 

 Fire Rangers during the summer months or for 

 the danger period, is not a progressive policy. 

 The very foundation of fire prevention can be 

 better established during the winter, when 

 climatic condition allow him the necessary time 

 to devote his attention to the educational part 

 of the work. He should be capable of giving 

 illustrated lectures on fire protection at the 

 various schools adjacent to his district. He 

 should visit each individual settler, impress upon 

 him the importance of fire protection and where 

 a settler intends clearing a portion of his land in 

 the spring, he should draw up a plan of action 

 whereby fire will not escape from such burning. 

 Therefore our policy in future should be the 

 engaging of intelligent Fire Rangers on a per- 

 manent basit. 



THOS. McNAUGHTON, 



Divisional Fire Inspector, B.R.C. 



o 



Two-thirds of the entire area of Canada is 

 non-agricultural. 



Seventy per cent, of Nova Scotia and New 

 Brunswick is natural forest-growing land and 

 will not pay a profit to the farmer. 

 o 



The forests of France, so carefully protected 

 and cultivated for centuries, saved the cause for 

 the Allies. More than 40,000 trees a day were 

 cut during four years to meet the demands of the 

 military leaders. 



o 



The Dominion Government's Forestry Branch 

 has planted more than 40,000,000 trees on the 

 prairies and 85 per cent, of them are thriving 

 to-day. 



