SPECIALIZED FOREST PROTECTION 11 



amount of work that may be accomplished in this way depends on the seasonal condi- 

 tions but it rarely happens that a fairly considerable total does not result from 

 careful preliminary preparation and skilful use of opportunity and of the means 

 of communication available. 



2 COMMISSARY 



The bulk of the material handled by the transport service to fire-fighting crews is 

 food'. This is supplied in the most successfully organized forest districts through a 

 central depot which distributes to a group of fire-control districts, generally the same 

 group as is handled by a single transport officer. 



The officer in charge of the commissary is called the " quartermaster " and, in 

 fact, very often combines the duties ,of quartermaster with those of packmaster. He 

 arranges for the delivery of the necessary food, tools, and miscellaneous camp 

 supplies, such as tobacco, so<eks, etc., from the main supply points in the nearest 

 towns to one or more base stations from which they are distributed to the fire-fighting 

 crews as required. The cooks at the various camps make requisition upon him for 

 supplies either directly by telephone or other line of rapid communication, or 

 indirectly by message to the nearest telephone station. The extreme uncertainty of 

 the extent or duration of this class of work constitutes the principal element of 

 difficulty for the quartermaster, and this he is enabled to minimize by being in 

 constant direct communication with each camp. 



3 FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING 



The payment of fire-fighters must be handled promptly, especially where large 

 crews of a floating class of labour are involved. Also, an efficient organization will 

 want to maintain an accurate record of its expenditure and an adequate cost- 

 accounting system. This is generally handled by a paymaster who disburses for a 

 group of fire-control districts, often including two or more groups of the size handled 

 by a single quartermaster or packmaster. The intercommunicating system expedites 

 the work of the paymaster by enabling him to get advance information in regard to 

 the men coming out and the amount of disbursement he must be prepared to 

 make each day. This is often of great importance in regions where banking facili- 

 ties are limited. On the fire-line he is represented by the timekeeper who, however, 

 generally has other duties to perform as well. 



4 INTERCOMMUNICATION AND RECONNAISSANCE 



As has already been indicated it is of vital importance to the efficient operation 

 of each of the several departments of the fire-control staff that constant communi- 

 cation be maintained between the fire-fighting crew and the various headquarters in 

 the rear of the fire-line. 



It is also of much importance on a large fire that the officer in charge be kept 

 constantly informed of the progress of the fire in all its parts and of the success or 

 failure of the various control measures undertaken by the forces combating it. This, of 

 course, assumes that a relatively large fire is being subdued. Small fires may be readily 

 observed by the officer in charge and no special organization for securing information 

 is needed. On large fires, however, it is frequently found desirable to employ a scout 

 or intelligence officer. The duty of this member of the force is to keep the chief of the 

 fire-fighting force informed of all important features of the work of fire control and of 

 the progress of the fire itself where not yet under control. He is also, as a rule, charged 

 with establishing and maintaining communication with the headquarters in the 

 rear. Now, it rarely happens that a fire camp is located on a permanent telephone 

 line. If, therefore, it is considered necessary that the camp be equipped for direct 

 communication it becomes the duty of this officer to provide telephone connection or 



