CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 51 



lessly disposed persons against setting fires; they should 

 cause their districts to be patrolled as they have authority 

 to do, and they should be especially active in having any 

 forest fire extinguished at the earliest moment and before 

 it gets beyond control. But suppose a fire has gained 

 considerable headway and is burning over several acres 

 of fallen timber and slashings and is really such a fire as 

 cannot be extinguished? If a gale should rise such a fire 

 would be likely to spread and cause disaster. Then in 

 such a case the fire wardens should try to have plenty help, 

 and before the wind has risen go a sufficient distance in 

 advance of the fire and make an extra sufficient fire break. 

 This had better be done in the evening or very early in 

 the morning, when the weather is likely to be calm. In 

 making a fire break in such case advantage should be 

 taken of any natural formation, such as a stream, hillside 

 or road. 



The fire wardens of a town should, before there is 

 danger of any fire, carefully consult together and agree 

 upon the best plan of action to be taken at a critical 

 moment. They should be just as well prepared as pos- 

 sible for an emergency, and if they seasonably think the 

 matter over seriously they will realize how important is 

 the prevention of fires. One thing which they certainly 

 can do is to make themselves familiar with the fire warden 

 law, so as to know what their duties are. 



Town supervisors as fire wardens now have plenty of 

 authority, and they will be responsible for dangerous fires 

 originating in their town. 



Under the present law fire wardens and those who assist 

 them can be reasonably sure of their pay. The state, as 

 before said, now pays two-thirds of the local expense 

 which counties incur for fire warden service; and there is 

 besides a fund of 15,000 which the state will directly ex- 

 pend if necessary for the prevention and extinguishment 



