NEW IDEAS IN CONTROLLING FOREST FIRES 203 



goes the pack must necessarily follow, since the animals are hitched so close 

 in that they have no room to get behind trees or other obstructions. 



An organized force of fire fighters and projier apparatus are not in them- 

 selves sufficient for adequate fire protection. For them to do effective work a 

 fire must be located as soon as possible and there must be means of getting to 

 it promptly. On the Arkansas National Forest fires are now located by means 

 of range finding towers set on prominent peaks overlooking as much country 

 as possible. The towers are connected by telephone with each other, and also 

 with ranger stations and towns in some instances so that when a watchman 

 sights a tire he can give warning or summon assistance. 



The upper part of the watchman's tower is a sighting hood with a four- 

 foot opening extending entirely around. In this opening are set, with mathe- 

 matical exactness, 144 wires, each space corresponding to 2 30' of a circle 

 whose exact center is marked by a plumb bob. When a fire is seen the watch- 

 man sights by the plumb bob to the wire in line, notes its number; then by 

 telephone or signal exchanges this number with the corresponding number of 

 another tower from which the fire is visible. A map with all the lines plotted 

 is before him so that with any two numbers a fire may be definitely located. 

 A hurried plan of action can be telephoned or signalled, since the map shows 

 the roads, creeks, and fire lines. In planning to handle a fire, the velocity 

 and prevailing direction of the wind, which are noted on a dial over the watch- 

 man's chair, are taken into account. Forest rangers, fire guards, and special 

 emjdoyees without telephone facilities are notified by heliographic flashes by 

 day and signal lanterns at night. This range finder is extremely simple in op- 

 eration, designed especially for use by unskilled laborers, thus obviating the 

 necessity for men skilled in the use of instruments who would command much 

 higher salaries. 



Supervisor Adams is of the opinion that the national forests could be 

 better protected if the Forest Service had a special fire department separate 

 from the general administration. He proposes "that a fire department of the 

 Forest Service be organized, which should, with one notable exception, bear 

 the same reaction to the service that the fire department of a city bears to the 

 city government. The exception noted is that the members of the forest fire 

 force should devote their extra time to designing and experimenting with 

 equipment and apparatus, in field studies of local problems, and in laying out 

 trails and fire lines. Supplementing this nucleus would be the regular forest 

 officers, the rangers and guards, who would correspond to a volunteer force 

 when the fire occurred." 



Such reorganization of the Forest Service would largely relieve the tech- 

 nical men of that most unpleasant of all work, fire duty, leaving to them the 

 solution of forestry problems for which they have specially trained. The men 

 of the forest fire force, being freed from the multitudinous cares of adminis- 

 tration, could devote their whole time to a study of fire problems and to ef- 

 fecting their solution. When one realizes that fire is the greatest of all im- 

 pediments to forest conservation and the practice of forestry everywhere the 

 importance of securing protection becomes obvious. Too much attention could 

 hardly be given to the subject and no plans for the lessening of the danger 

 should be denied a hearing and perhaps a trial. Whether or not Mr. Adams' 

 plans prove successful he is at least entitled to credit for doing some original 

 thinking. 



