FIREWARDEN'S REPORT. 21 



Smokers' Fires. 



The number of fires attributed to smokers shows an increase of 

 from 19 in 1911 to 24 in 1912, despite the fact that fires of this 

 nature are the hardest for which to fix responsibility. It must be 

 repeated that undoubtedly the major proportion of the fires at- 

 tributed to unknown and miscellaneous causes would fall into this 

 column if their origin could be determined. As was also empha- 

 sized last year, the elimination of such fires must be effected by 

 the smokers themselves. The conditions governing their origin 

 are such that adequate measures to reduce their number are en- 

 tirely disproportional to the cost involved. However, it is hopeful 

 to note that with the means now available more such fires are lo- 

 cated than heretofore. 



Incendiary Fires. 



So few have fires of this class become that but two are known 

 to have originated during the last year from malicious intent. One 

 of the offenders has already been brought to trial and the other 

 case points to the same outcome. 



Miscellaneous Fires. 



Into this class fall fires started by hunters, automobilists, camp- 

 ers, etc., and the number so fixed shows an increase over last year 

 of from 31 to 45. Of these the sportsmen set n and huckleberry 

 pickers 9, whether by careless smoking, with intent, or in some 

 other way is not known. It does grow more plain each year, how- 

 ever, that these two classes of forest users must be watched 

 and warned. Another variety of this class of fires is demand- 

 ing especial attention, viz., those started by certain types of 

 fireworks in which the fire persists. These exhibitions endanger 

 more than the woods, for relics from ' which forest fires have 

 started show that the fire carriers are capable of doing damage to 

 crops or to any material not fire proof. 



THE FOREST FIRE SERVICE. 



At the end of the first full year of service under the re-organiza- 

 tion described a year ago, the Fire Service has plainly proven its 

 increased efficiency. Of the 2,000,000 acres of forest in the State, 



