CH. II 



FIRE PROTECTION 



277 



slightly strip No. 1, in order to check the progress of 

 the flames at the end of that strip. When the embers 

 on strip 1 have been well beaten out, and those from 

 strip 2 have met it and there is no more danger of 

 flames breaking back, the firing of strip 3 is begun, 

 that of strip 4 following it as soon as strip 2 is safe, and 



so on. 



If the trace is very broad, it may be an advantage 

 to run a bundle of burning grass down the axis of the 

 trace. This checks the impetus of the flames and 

 prevents too strong a draught from following them 

 from the guide-lines. Following the firing gang there 

 must always be one or two men whose duty it is to 



Guide line 



- t & \. Trace & ' - 1 r 



Fig. 87 



stamp out any glowing embers which have been over- 

 looked, and to sweep from the guide-line on to the 

 trace any inflammable material which might allow fire 

 to cross it. They must also watch sparks carried into 

 the forest, as well as burning leaves and twigs, and must 

 stamp them out at once. In coniferous forests special 

 care must be given to burning cones, and where there 

 are hanging birds'-nests, which are highly inflammable, 

 these should also be watched. I have known of such 

 which were carried right across a fire-line and set fire 

 to the forest on the other side. If a fire-line is made 

 down a slope the firing should be begun from the top of 

 that slope. 



Should any fire break across the guide-line into the 

 forest, all efforts should be made to stop it at once. 



