6 



METHODS OF COMMUNICATION FOR FOREST PROTECTION 



has learned is that the way to prevent large fires is to extinguish them when they 

 are small an obvious lesson the accomplishment of which task is the primary 

 purpose of specialization in forest protection. 



There are in general but two ways to ensure that all fires will be extinguished 

 in their incipiency. The one is to put in an overwhelming force and depend upon 

 -weight of numbers and extremely small districts to ensure success. The possibilities 

 of this system are soon reached, owing to the prohibitive expense. The other system 

 is to adopt specialization, to use fewer but more highly trained men, to co-ordinate 

 -.their activities by organization and discipline and to assist them with every form of 



Fig. 2 Steel lookout tower on a Dominion forest reserve in Saskatchewan 



mechanical appliance that will multiply their individual effectiveness. Among these 

 appliances modern means of intercommunication are of basic importance, and in no 

 respect is this more evident than in specialized means of Detection. 



The function of Detection in a specialized staff is performed by units entirely 

 distinct from the rest of the force. The nature of their duties is such that they can 

 rarely perform any other duties even as a secondary function, and only in a very 

 imperfect way can other units perform the function of Detection on a secondary 

 basis. These units, charged specifically with the duty of detecting and locating fires, 

 are known as " lookout men " and hundreds of them are employed in specialized forest 



