the fire. Take time to get at the facts. 



Try not to turn in a report marked 

 with "Unknown" or a similar cause. To do this too 

 frequently raises a doubt of a warden's interest 

 and activity. It is a warden's duty to turn in all he 

 knows about how a fire was started and by whom. 



(50) Make as careful an estimate as possible of the 



area burned over, and show the char- 

 acter of the forest. In calculating 

 areas, it will be helpful to remember that one acre 

 equals 43,5GO square feet, or a piece about 208 x 208 

 feet. A strip one-half mile (2,640 feet) long by 10 

 rods (165 feet) wide equals 10 acres. A strip one 

 mile (5,280 feet) long by one-quarter mile (1,320 feet) 

 wide equals 160 acres. 



(51) Give the best estimate you can of the damage 



done. Even a guess by you on the 

 ground is sure to be better than a 

 guess by some one who has not been there. Con- 

 sider the permanent effect of the fire, not merely 

 what it seems to have done. Many fires appear to 

 have destroyed everything, yet actually do little 

 harm. On the other hand, the burning of a young 

 forest is an actual loss, for by it the small trees, or 

 sprouts, are prevented from growing to commercial 

 size. 



Fire Bills. 



(52) Every fire bill must be submitted on the offi- 



cial Forest Fire Service form. The 

 Fire tills. Forest Commission requires but one 



copy, which must be signed by the township clerk 

 and township treasurer and sent to Trenton promptly. 

 Salary and special service bills must be submitted 

 on the same forms and in the same way. If a town- 

 ship committee requires it, a warden will furnish 

 them with duplicates. 



(53) Delay on the part of wardens or township 



officials in submitting bills for fires 

 may cause the Forest Commission to 

 collect a penalty less than the amount 

 of the bill and thereby place a part of the expense 

 on the township when the offender might have paid 

 it all. 



