APPENDIX. 



not to counterfire unless it is absolutely essential to do 

 so. It should be borne in mind that reckless and need- 

 less counterfiring does more harm than good. No 

 counterfiring should be done except with the appro- 

 val of the Range Officer or the officer in charge of 

 operations. 



(c) If a conntfrfire is necessary where should such be carried 



out. When the fire has assumed a wide frontage and 

 is advancing rapidly with the aid of a strong wind 

 through forest containing heavy grass and much dry 

 debris and the flames are such that it is dangerous, if 

 not impossible, for men to battle directly against the 

 conflagration the need for counterfiring becomes imme- 

 diately clear. It is then necessary to choose the most 

 suitable, usually the nearest, road or fireline from which 

 to counterfire. This road or fire line, should be selected 

 in the direction, in which the fire is advancing and 

 should, if possible, be sufficiently ahead to allow the 

 act of counterfiring to be completed in good time so that 

 the two opposing fires may meet some distance away in 

 the interior of the burning compartments. 



(d) Staff and labour immediately available and the most 



effective manner of distributing them. A correct idea 

 of the staff and labour at once available is necessary 

 so that definite tasks over definite sections of the 

 perimeter of the fire may be allotted. The Eange 

 Officer should keep with him two or three messengers 

 mounted on ponies or cycles to convey his instructions 

 to subordinates. 



(e) Arrangtments for drink and food. It is of the greatest 



importance that immediate and adequte arrangements 

 should be made for supplying regularly the fighting gangs 

 with drinking water. If it is anticipated that the 



