10 METHODS OF COMMUNICATION FOR FOREST PROTECTION , 



might constitute the subject matter of a manual of forest protection and is beyond the 

 scope of a manual on communication alone, but the main divisions of it may be very 

 briefly considered. In doing so, however, it is necessary to recollect that although the 

 object of all fire-protection forces is principally to prevent fires, nevertheless the supreme 

 test will come in the actual handling of a dangerous forest fire and all organization 

 must be based upon preparation for this contingency. This, of necessity, involves a 

 somewhat elaborate organization which must be provided though it may never in prac- 

 tice be utilized for the purpose intended. From this it does not necessarily follow that 

 a staff is held idle merely awaiting emergencies that no effort is spared to avoid. On 

 the contrary, the skill of the organizer is shown by the way the necessary staff is 

 secured for emergency work without continuous maintenance. This force as already 

 indicated is divided into line and staff according to the nature of its duties. 



Section 11 Duties of Suppression Staff Officers 



These are five in number and give rise to five separate departments, but it is seldom, 

 even in a very dangerous region, that all are separately organized. 



1 TRANSPORT 



The transportation problem becomes important only when relatively large fires 

 must be fought at a considerable distance from a base of supplies. Its difficulties 

 arise more from the poor quality of the lines of communication over which trans- 

 portation takes place than from any other factor. Crews seldom exceed 100 men 

 though more than 1,000 have at times been engaged in one locality. Distances are 

 sometimes considerable, frequently 25 miles beyond the railways, sometimes more 

 than 100 miles. Wagons, boats, or pack-horses are the usual equipment employed. 

 Sometimes motor-cars may be used but on the other hand 1 it is sometimes necessary 

 to pack supplies on men's backs. When, as is nearly always the case in the western 

 forests, pack-horses are the only feasible means of transport, the maintenance of a 

 hundred men on a fire-line is quite as difficult a transport problem as is the main- 

 tenance of 2,000 or 3,000 men in a country where modern motor-trucks may be 

 employed. 



The transport service in a specialized force is seldom under the direct charge 

 of the supervisory officer having immediate charge of the smallest fire-protection 

 district or unit of area. As a rule ten or more such districts are combined under an 

 officer of higher rank and. the transport service for the entire group is handled from 

 a central headquarters. Where necessary a chief transport officer, genemlly called 

 the " packmaster," is employed for this purpose. 



A very important element of transportation is the condition of the lines of com- 

 munication, such as roads and trails. It must be the constant aim of a forest- 

 protection force to improve these lines at every possible opportunity. In the accom- 

 pF.shment of this an intercommunicating system is of the highest importance. Its 

 value arises from the fact that in scarcely any forest region is the fire season continu- 

 ous, but owing to rains there are periods of greater or less length when no fire is 

 likely to occur. The efficient organization will plan to use the fire-protection staff 

 during such periods for the extension or improvement of lines of communication. 

 This is accomplished by preparing in advance careful plans for necessary improve- 

 ments to roads, trails, or other permanent works, distributing the work as much as 

 possible to all districts. Immediately on the occurrence of a heavy "rain, the fire- 

 control force is swung on to improvement work through the medium of the inter- 

 communication system and is kept employed on this work at the discretion of the 

 supervising officer until conditions again require a return to fire-control duties. The 



