FIREWARDEN'S REPORT. 57 



prise of a similar type, where forest interests are large enough, 

 or small ones closely enough allied, to make a fire patrol a prac- 

 tical as well as a vital feature. 



THE FOREST FIRE ORGANIZATION. 



Particularly noteworthy has been the advance made during 

 the past year in the reorganization of the whole fire service and 

 in the increased effectiveness secured thereby on the administra- 

 tive side by the addition of four State firewardens and, locally 

 by the increased number, and the improving interest and effi- 

 ciency, of the local wardens. 



Made possible by an amendment to the fire law passed by the 

 last Legislature, four division wardens have been added to the 

 State firewarden's office, who work with that office in the admin- 

 istration of the forest fire business of the State. These men have 

 headquarters in (i) Dover, (2) Lakehurst, (3) Hammonton 

 and (4) Millville, and divide the State into divisions composed 

 as follows : ( i ) Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Morris, 

 Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties and that 

 part of Middlesex county lying north of Riaritan river. (2) 

 Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties, the portion of Middle- 

 sex lying south of the Raritan river, and Burlington county 

 exclusive of Bass River and Washington townships. (3) Atlan- 

 tic, Camden and Gloucester counties and Bass River and Wash- 

 ington townships in Burlington county. (4) Cape May, 

 Cumberland and Salem counties. (See fig. 13.) 



By increased activity of the local wardens, by marked prompt- 

 ness in handling the business of. the fire service, particularly 

 violations of the law, and by a growing co-operation between 

 the townships and State in the control of fire, results prove the 

 value of this extension in the short time it has been active. It is 

 believed that these results present but surface features whose 

 underlying- utility the next year's work will amplify and prove. 



The achievement of the local organization in its sphere also 

 shows encouraging improvement. Former wardens whose 

 service was unsatisfactory have been replaced by men whose 

 heart is in the work. Many of those who previously neither 



