654. PROTECTION AGAINST FOREST FIRES. 



A system of telephones in endangered forests is extremely 

 useful, enabling the managers to mass men at points where a 

 fire has broken out. In the Count of Frankenberg's forests, 

 at Tillowitz in Silesia, such a system exists, connecting the 

 forest guards with the manager's office. 



6. Rules for Extiiiijuishing Forest Fires, 

 a. General Rules 



If a fire should break out in a forest, the manager must call 

 on all available labourers from the nearest villages, as well as 

 the forest workmen, to hurry to the site of the tire, and carry 

 out the necessary measures for extinguishing it. The workmen 

 should bring bill-hooks, hoes, iron-rakes, and axes, and provide 

 themselves with saplings or branches to beat out the fire. The 

 chief object should be to limit the progress of the fire at the 

 smallest possible sacrifice of still unburnt woods. This is best 

 done by attacking the fire on both sides nearly parallel to the 

 direction of the wind, and gradually beating it out in the shape 

 of a wedge. The burned area must be abandoned to the fiames. 

 The result depends on the presence of mind, courage, energy, 

 decision of character and practical directions of the head 

 forester present, and on the obedience, zeal and skill of the men. 

 The chief forester present must be thoroughly acquainted with 

 the locality, as it may be necessary to sacrifice an area of 

 unburned forest by counterfiring. In order to detect at once 

 any fires arising from sparks which may cross fire-traces, men 

 must be posted at all threatened points around the actual fire. 

 As it may take several days to extinguish an extensive forest 

 fire, arrangements may be required to work the available labour 

 force by relays, and to supply the men at work with food and 

 drink. 



In countries like India, where forest fires are common, 

 wherever the villagers willingly come forward to help in extin- 

 guishing fires, concessions may be made to them of dead 

 firewood or thatching grass, and in case of the fire burning 

 the houses of a village, situated near the forest, the manager 

 should be ready to help with building and thatching material, 

 either free or at cheap rates. 



