WON FOREST FIRE FIGHT 



593 



vance of the flames, this fire line being 

 about four miles in length. All this 

 was cleared out in one day's time, which 

 is believed to be about the record time 

 for such a performance over so large 

 an area. For three days a total of forty 

 men was at work, when the force was 



then cut to fifteen or twenty. 



mi , .. , , 



The damage to green timber is esti- 



mated at $15,000, and in reproduction 

 at $15,000, a total of $30,000. 



While the forest service men don't 

 say much about the details of the fight 

 a few meagre particulars indicate that 

 it was a fierce one. Camp was pitched 

 at what was considered a safe distance 

 from the fire, which, however, was 

 right on top of the bivouac in an amaz- 

 ingly short time, strenuous work being 

 necessary to keep the camp site and a 

 square mile of feed for the horses free 

 of fire. On every side of this square 

 mile the fire was raging No serious 

 injury to any of the fire-fighters how- 

 ever, is reported. The task which con- 

 fronted them is shown by the estimate 

 that an army of 400 men could not 

 have checked the advance of the flames 

 in the afternoon when the wind was 

 fanning it. 



The army emergency ration was 

 tried out at this fire but found unsat- 

 isfactory for fire-fighters while at work 

 because of its dryness. Water had to 

 be hauled some distance to supply the 



nished a part of the force of men at 

 wor j c 



Supplies and tools which had to be 

 hauled part of the way and packed part 

 of the way were on hand and ready, 

 Arrangements are now being made for 

 connections with the military telegraph 

 line which runs through this section, 

 and the installation of the telegraphones 

 throughout the forest for use on that 

 line. Last year there was no telephone 

 wire on the forest and the bui Iding of 

 seventy miles this year indicates the 

 extent of the fire protection measures 

 being taken by the service. 



The supervisor at present can call up 

 any of his rangers over the telephone, 

 but the telegraphone service will make 



communication much more complete. A 

 considerable sum will be spent this year 

 j n further trail building and improve- 



m ent 



The number f trge lookouts wjn bg 



*\ . 

 mented with lookout towers with tn- 



angulation to secure exact location. 

 TT & , . ,, . , . , 



How us f " ! th ^ se J k< *^ are 1S de u m - 

 onstrated by the fact that in another 



district of ^ s same f rest where 

 " natural P omt of vanta f m 



sha P e of bare P eaks > twelve fires were 

 reported by the lookouts and extm- 



guished with a total expense to the 

 government of $50 and damage only 

 nominal. 



Six rules have been printed on 

 placards and sent out from head- 

 quarters to be placed in hotels at the 



Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Williams 

 ganta Fe and Qther places where the 



forest . usi ublic ma see them> The 



, . . * f ollowg / 

 P la ^ ar< s 



The Six Rules for Care With Fire 



m the Mountains : 



If every member of the public strict- 

 ly observes these simple rules the great 

 annual loss by forest fires will be re- 

 duced to a minimum. 



j. Be sure your match is out before 



vou throw it away. 



g KnQck ^ &shes or 



th r r r cig v c r e : te h r mp 



where there is nothin to catch fire. 



3. Don't build a campfire any larger 

 than is absolutely necessary. Never 

 leave it, even for a short time, without 

 putting it out with water or earth. 



4. Don't build a campfire against a 

 tree or i O g. Build a small one where 

 y OU ca n scrape away the needles, leaves 

 ' QT grass f rom a \\ s jdes of it. 



5 Don , t build bonfireSi The wind 



time and gtart a 



fir / which P U cannQ y t control 



6. If you discover a fire, pu : it out if 

 possible; if you cant, get word of it to 

 the nearest United States forest ranger 

 or State fire warden as quickly as you 

 possibly can. 



