PROTECTION OF FORESTS FROM FIRE 713 



escaping from locomotives. A stretch Artificial Fire Obstructions 

 of several miles is on a steep grade, and 



the locomotives under forced draft, It is well known that a small, creep- 

 throw out great showers of burning in g surface fire is stopped or checked 

 cinders, and no spark arresters what- by a stone wall or other similar obstruc- 

 ever are used. As a protection, a fire tion. This principle may be used in 

 line varying in width from 8 to 15 feet fi re protection, and other types of fire 

 has been constructed on a bench at a lines ma y often be dispensed with where 

 distance of from 50 to 150 feet from the there are such obstructions. A well- 

 railroad. (PI. IX, fig. i.) The strip known railroad has been experimenting 

 between the line and the railroad is left wit h a specially constructed fire wall, 

 untouched. A patrolman rides over 



the strip about the time the trains going SUPERVISION AND CONTROL 

 up grade pass by. Ordinarily the small 



fires are extinguished by beating. In A careful supervision or patrol dur- 

 case, however, a number of fires are m S the dry season is one of the most 

 started by a train, as often happens, important measures in organized fire 

 one or two of them burn over the srrip protection. Its purposes are: (i) To 

 to the fire line before the patrolman prevent fires from starting; (2) to de- 

 can reach them. The strip is so nar- tect fires as soon as possible after they 

 row, however, that they gain little start ; (3) to fight fires, 

 headway, and are absolutely stopped by The mere fact that a tract is carefully 

 the fire line. watched makes it safer, because camp- 

 In mountainous country, fire lines ers > hunters, and others crossing it are 

 are located with reference to the topo- ' ess careless on that acount. By an 

 graphy. Where roads are used, or fire efficient supervision most of the unnec- 

 lines are made that are intended to be essar y fires can be prevented, such as 

 used later as roads, the location is gov- those arising from carelessness in clear- 

 erned largely by the principles of road m S lar >d, leaving camp fires, and smok- 

 construction. Special fire lines, how- ' m S> from improperly equipped saw- 

 ever, constructed for protection alone, mills, locomotives, donkey engines, etc. 

 are built mainly on the crest of ridges. One of the fundamental principles 

 (PI. VIII, fig.' 2. ) Thus, the wide in fire . protection is to detect and attack 

 lines in southern California, already fi res i" their incipiency. In an un- 

 mentionecl, are on the various ridges, watched forest a fire may burn for a 

 A fire runs up a slope very rapidly and lon " ti me an d " ain great headway be- 

 works over a ridge slowly. If there is ^ ore being discovered. In a forest 

 a wide, cleared fire line on the ridge the un der proper protection there is some 

 fire may be stopped entirely by it alone. one man or corps of men responsible 

 In the southern Appalachians and other for detecting fires and for attacking 

 mountains, the old mountain trails on tliem before they have time to do much 

 the ridges may be developed into admir- damage or to develop beyond control, 

 able fire lines. 



The question of when and where to Aids to S"P cn '' si and Control 



construct special fire lines depends on T T i 



] f _ n1 i-' , } Under the head of aids to supervis- 



local conditions, the danger from fire, ion an(1 trol are indu(led . ' } The 



he value of the forest, the organiza- pos tiug O f fi re warnings; (2) lookoul 



tion of patrol and force available for stations; (3) telephone systems; 14) 



ightmg fire, the object of the owner in signal systems, 

 protecting the forest, and many other 

 factors. As with other operations of 



management, the expense must be jus- One of the first steps in organizing 



led _by the results which their con- protection in a forest is to post it with 



struction is intended to accomplish. fire warnings. These notices emphati- 



