PONY BLIMPS FOR FIGHTING FOREST FIRES 



619 



operating cost is figured at 24 cents per mile, including 

 total maintenance of the Blimp for 24 hours, or an actual 

 flying-time cost of 2 1-2 cents per mile. Buoyancy is 

 secured with hydrogen gas ; 20,000 cubic feet per month 

 being required for continuous operation. This gas is 

 available in steel containers, holding 191 cubic feet, in all 

 large cities. 



The piloting of a Blimp is said to be rather more com- 

 plicated than that of an airplane, as the operator not only 

 has his motor and steering apparatus to control, but also 

 the gas pressure in the bag. To maintain the proper re- 

 lation between the weight of the cargo and the buoyancy 

 of the bag at varying altitudes, air is admitted to the 

 hydrogen. This operation requires highly developed skill 

 and technical knowledge. 



During the 1920 fire season, a test of the Pony Blimp 

 was made over the Angeles National Forest in California 

 with excellent 

 results. The di- 

 rigible cruised 

 a number of 

 narrow c a n- 

 yons for their 

 entire length 

 within a short 

 distance of the 

 ground, ana 

 otherwise dem- 

 onstrated the 

 p r a cticability 

 of the machine 

 for patrol and 

 fire- fighting 

 work. As a re- 

 sult of this 

 trial, ofiicers 

 of the United 

 States Forest 

 Service are of the opinion that the Pony Blimp olTers a 

 practical solution to mag^ of the forestjije problems ip 

 our country. Each year, from 6,000 to 7,000, or morb 

 fires occur in the 156 million acres of National Forests, 

 many of which are in remote parts of the mountains 



(Photograph by courtesy of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company). 



THE PONY BLIMP ABOUT TO START OFF ON AN EMERGENCY CALL 



Fully equipped for the transportation of necessary crews and supplies, it is believed that 

 this speedy little dirigible will prove an important factor in the successful solution of the 

 fire forest fighting game. 



where travel and transportation are difficult and at times 

 impossible, due to lack of existing roads and trails. Here 

 fixes often gain tremendous headway before crews of 

 men, equipped with fire-fighting tools and supplies, can 

 be brought into action against the flames. 



The use of Blimps would materially alter such con- 

 ditions. With machines cruising regular patrol routes, 

 it would be possible for observers to "spot" fires in their 

 early stages, and radio the location of the smoke to the 

 nearest base camp where a Blimp, equipped with tools 

 and supplies and manned by a crew of experienced fire 

 fighters, could take the air on short notice. On reaching 

 the scene of the fire after a fast run, a suitable landing 

 place would be selected nearby, the fire crew lowered to 

 the ground by means of rope ladders, and the machine 

 anchored until the fire was put out. Their work done, 

 the crew would return to their base station by the air route, 



and await the 

 next call to ac- 

 tion. 



"Minutes 

 count" in fight- 

 ing forest fires. 

 A 1 i g h t n ing 

 struck tree, a 

 camp fire left 

 smouldering, a 

 lighted match 

 o r cigarette 

 carelessly 

 thrown aside in 

 the forest may, 

 if not promptly 

 "spotted" and 

 fought, cause 

 a conflagration 

 that will take 

 days and weeks 

 of hard work to extinguish, and result in the loss of thou- 

 sands of dollars worth of timber and property. The Pony 

 Blimp, if it lives up to its reputation for speed and effi- 

 ciency, will prove the biggest factor yet discovered to- 

 ward the successful solution of the fire fighting game. 



HOW IT HAPPENED 



BY CLIFFORD E. DAVIS 



This is the match with the phosphorent end, 

 That a hunter passed to his city friend, 

 Who struck it, lighted his brown cigar, 

 Then, looking not, tossed the match afar. 



Engrossed with the topics of the day 



The two passed on their careless way; 



While the match fell on a leaf pile dry 



And smouldered kindled, and then blazed high. 



A light wind fanned it; and soon it ran 

 Faster than horse, defying man. 

 The blaze to tree tops began to soar 

 Announcing its power with a sullen roar. 



The wild game, frightened, at top speed fled 



But hundreds, pitifully, soon were dead. 



As were thousands of trees that the whole world needs, 



Burned, even slips, and forest seeds. 



And all because "personal liberty" let 

 A fool, with a match, all sense foreet 



V--. 



