The Forest Fire Service. 



BY CHARLES P. WILBER, STATE FIREWARDEN. 



SUMMARY. 



Weather again favorable to forest fires Damage by fires much 

 reduced Railroads cause most fires, fewer than ever from 

 brush burning Fire service more efficient Many viola- 

 tions of law established Co-operation with Federal Gov- 

 ernment Lookout and telephone construction Railroad 

 fire-lines extended. 



THE FIRE SEASON. 



Unlike the last three years, 1912 was normally moist. An un- 

 usually late spring with its tendency towards fire was to a large 

 degree offset by prevailing wet weather. Until the middle of 

 May no prolonged dry spell threatened the woodland with the fires 

 usually connected with such conditions, and after that time the 

 rising sap and rapid growth of retarded vegetation tended to re- 

 duce the danger well below what is usual. When June was 

 reached dry weather had become fixed, however, so that during 

 this month and in July precipitation fell far enough under the nor- 

 mal to create drouth conditions. Although the rest of the central 

 weather district shows a rainfall above the average in August, New 

 Jersey did not share the moisture, and the usual late summer 

 drouth was as pronounced as any of recent years. With Septem^ 

 ber ! normal conditions returned and, though October was drier 

 than ordinarily, heavy rainfall in the middle of the month and later 

 prevented serious trouble with fall fires. Thus, while the rainfall 

 for the year stands well above that for the last few years, drouth 

 did occur to such a degree that forest fire conditions were on the 

 whole as bad as heretofore. While there were 99 less spring fires 

 this year than last, the summer record was reversed, with 89 more 



irom June to September than a year ago. explaining why fires for 

 he year show no marked numerical decrease despite a higher 

 nnual moisture average. 

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