FIRE PROTECTION IN THE NATIONAL FORESTS 581 



prosecutions for violation of federal and state fire laws. The idea that forest 

 fires could not be extin*ruished has largely been dispelled and a vast amount 

 of good accomplished by the actual fire fighting in which forest users and 

 residents in and near the national forests have engaged, and many people 

 who in years past have been careless about fires, now realize the damage 

 caused by fires and from experience the hard work necessary to extinguish 

 them. 



CO-OPERATION. 



Before the creation of the national forests little or no efifort was made 

 in the states in which there are now national forests, either to prevent or 

 extinguish fires. One result of the protection in the forests and the educa- 

 tional activities of the Forest Service has been to interest the states and 

 lumbermen's associations, and indirectly to encourage the formation of asso- 

 ciations for fire protection. The Service has constantly endeavored to co- 

 operate with all such organizations. At the present time Washington, Oregon, 

 Idaho, and Montana are taking an active interest in fire protection, and are 

 co-operating with the Forest Service. 



This cooperation usually ])rovides for such an arrangement of patrol as 

 to prevent needless duplication, for mutual notification in case of fire, for 

 the division of the cost of fighting fires in accordance with the acreage burned 

 over under each jurisdiction, for the appointment of federal officers as state 

 wardens without salary in order that they may assist in the enforcement of 

 state laws, and the appointment of state officers as federal guards at a nominal 

 salary in order that they may have the authority of federal officers on lands 

 belonging to the United States. 



A number of fire associations in the states named and composed largely 

 of lumbermen, are cooperating in a similar way. In a large number of cases 

 in addition, there is very helpful cooperation from the owners of timberlands, 

 frequently in the form outlined under cooperation with states. In the case 

 of small holdings it may not, however, go further than mutual notification of 

 fires, and assistance in case the holdings of either party to the agreement are 

 threatened. 



The cooperation secured with railroads because they are responsible for 

 30 i)er cent of the fires on the forests has already been mentioned. 



Further cooi)eration of great benefit is the assistance given by people 

 regardless of their own immediate interest in the national forests, from the 

 standjtoint of the protection of public interests. This cooperation usually 

 takes the form of notification of fires to forest officers, and assistance in 

 fighting fires when help is needed. A more infrequent form of cooperation 

 is in effect during the present season on the Sierra National Forest. A stage 

 company which operates over fifty miles of road within the forest on every 

 day except Sunday, notifies forest officers of fires and provides an efficient 

 patrol through a dangerous country in addition to the regular patrol. 



PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS. 



Protection from fire on the large areas included in the national forests 

 can never become thoroughly effective until suitable means of communication 

 and transportation have been constructed, and j)roperly located headtjuarters 

 for forest officers have been provided. This system of improvements must 

 eventually include extensive fire lines similar to those which have such a 

 great value in the European forests. Practically every forest now has a 

 permanent improvement plan showing as far in advance as the needs can be 

 foreseen, improvements necessary for fire protection, and for every other 



