and receded, to protect their homes, and have come out, even 

 if victorious, exhausted in body and mind, fit subjects for 

 medical care. This statement is not exaggerated, but it is 

 not expected that people unfamiliar with fires in the woods 

 can realize the awful strain which accompanies the terrific 

 physical exertion of opposing such an uncertain and treach- 

 erous enemy. If continued for an/ length of time, fire fight- 

 ing, because of the nervous tension under which one labors, 

 accompanied by the effects of heat and smoke, is killing work. 

 Moreover, for the period that the fires rage, all business must 

 be neglected, entailing financial loss to all concerned. 



It is possible for any such village or city to eliminate much 

 of the worry preceding and the hard labor accompanying the 

 fire season. A double fire-break properly made, and accord- 

 ing to the special needs of any municipality or even unor- 

 ganized village, would accomplish much. It would furnish in 

 itself an effective obstacle in the path of, and would afford 

 a double line of defense against the invasion of a fire. Every 

 city or village exposed to fire danger should not delay in 

 constructing, where needed, a substantial fire-break. This 

 measure would not only save the people from much of the 

 terror and labor of the fire season; it would also result in 

 direct financial benefit. It would make property in the village 

 or city a better fire risk, decreasing the premiums on fire 

 insurance. In fact, insurance companies have refused to 

 write insurance in some municipalities which are in partic- 

 ularly dangerous situations. By taking advantage of natural 

 features existing roads, lakes, rivers and open fields a vil- 

 lage may often protect itself in this way at very small cos\. 

 In some cases the work to be done will not be greatly de- 

 creased by such natural assistance; there the greater cost 

 will be justified by the greater danger to which the munic- 

 ipality is at present exposed. 



A fire-break should be at no or.tside point less than one 

 mile from the city limits. Local conditions will necessarily 

 require different methods in different places. Experience has 

 demonstrated that certain methods of constructing a fire- 

 break are cheaper and more effective than others. The Forest 

 Service officers are ready to give advice and assistance to 



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