CH. II 



FIRE PROTECTION 279 



under control before they have time to assume large and 

 dangerous dimensions. In the same way, small patches 

 of grass which have escaped the burning should be set 

 alight when they are dry enough to burn, and if 

 considerable masses have been spared by the first 

 firino-, a firing gang will have to be brought back for a 

 second burning as soon as it is ready for it. Each 

 watcher should go round his beat at least once a day, 

 and at dangerous times, as when there are many fires 

 about and a high wind is blowing, it may be necessary 

 for him to stay on the line where there is most danger 

 to be apprehended. The beats should therefore be of 

 such a size as will enable the watchers to do their 

 patrolling efficiently. The following description, taken 

 from the Indian Forester, will give a good idea of one 

 of the methods of patrolling : l 



"Temporary huts are constructed on the lines for 

 the housing of the fire-watchers, at a distance of 3 to 

 5 m. from one another, these being large enough to 

 hold two fire-watchers and occasionally a forester and 

 his servant sleeping in them. 



" Temporary wells are dug close to the huts and are 

 repaired annually at small cost by hired labour, or by 

 the watchers themselves as soon as they are employed. 

 After completion of this work, the work of ticket- 

 patrolling and sweeping dead leaves on the lines is 

 commenced. 



" The patrol- tickets are pieces of paper about 3 to 

 4 iu. square, with the name of the hut from which 

 they start, and the date and signature of the range 

 officer written on them. A known number of these 

 tickets is left in the starting hut of each block. The 

 tickets are started in the morning from the starting 

 huts of all the blocks, and are carried round the blocks 

 by watchers from hut to hut. The patrolling is so 

 arranged that the tickets from all the blocks meet at 

 a convenient hut in the centre, in the afternoon, as 



1 "Fire Protection on the Ticket-patrol System," by D. N. Avasia, in Ind. 

 For. vol. xxxiv. No. 11. 



