02 Canadian Forestry Journal. 



states that the bush fires were the most destructive since the year 

 1893. The area burned has been very extensive and the value 

 of timber destroyed is probably not less than half a million 

 dollars. The worst fires were in the northern part and are be- 

 lieved to have been due to the cardessness of prospectors, parti- 

 cularly persons prospecting for coal. Some fires arose from 

 want of care on, the part of persons clearing land, but the damage 

 done' in these cases was comparatively small. Five persons were 

 prosecuted under the Bush Fires Act, and three persons were 

 obtained. This report urges the appointment of fire wardens 

 and that no person should be allowed to set out a fire without 

 permission of the warden. 



In Southern Vancouver Island the fires were numerous dur- 

 ing the month of August when high winds prevailed. In some 

 cases a great deal of valuable timber was burnt and bridges and 

 buildings were also destroyed. There seems to be considerable care- 

 lessness in 'the handling cf fire and the railways are responsible: 

 for their share. One report states that the fires are mainly due 

 to sparks from locomotives used for hauling out the timber from 

 the logging camps, and along the line of the Esquimalt and 

 Nanaimo Railway. 



On the ncrthern coast there were no fires at Port Simpson as 

 the rainfall was heavy, but in the Atlin district there were several 

 small fires due to prospectors. In regard to these the agent 

 states that while these fires, as such, did not attain any great 

 force or volume, a fire of any volume whatever is regrettable in 

 such a sparsely timbered section and any damage whate^^er is 

 serious. 



In the Cariboo District, the central northern part of the Pro- 

 vince, there were a number of small fires through the settled dis- 

 tricts, and in nearly every case the fires originated from careless 

 campers travelling ; whites, Siwashes and Chinese are all alike 

 and equally careless in regard to camp fires, and it is about im- 

 possible to get and convict the right party. Forest fires were 

 observed to the north and east burning for days but their cause 

 and extent could only be conjectured. " Bush Fires Act" notices 

 are posted through all the settled district. 



