The Forest Fire Service. 



BY CHARLES P. WILEER, STATE: FIREWARDEN. 



SUMMARY. 



An unusually dry and dangerous season Large, destructive fires 

 notably fewer Property saved worth many times the cost 

 of fire service Effect of organization shown in analysis 

 of causes of fires Two hundred and fifty-three penalties, 

 amounting to over $2,000, collected from violators of fire 

 law 1 The State service aided by a grant of $1,000 from 

 the Federal Government The fire organization greatly 

 strengthened! Woods roads as fire protection Railroad 

 fire lines prevent many fires. 



THE FIRE SEASON.. 



In keeping with the conditions that have prevailed for three 

 years, the season of 1911 was unusually favorable to forest 

 fires. This applied not only to New Jersey, but to the whole 

 northeastern section of the country, and reports from other 

 States in the belt show a widespread and serious forest fire 

 problem. 



A late spring aggravated the normal danger at this season, 

 and the menace was increased by a lack of rainfall so marked 

 in its influence upon the forest fire situation that the official 

 weather reports for March and April make special mention of 

 its "fostering a condition under which forest fires found partic- 

 ularly favorable footing"; and again that "there was a notice- 

 able effect of this dry period on the forest fires that broke out 

 shortly after the close of the month" (April). In May these 

 conditions reached a climax officially designated as "the driest 



(19) 



