APPENDIX. 



Ixiii 



Another point is whether counterfires ^should be carried out 

 uphill or downhill. Generally all work progresses better in the 

 hills from the top to the bottom and counterfiring is no exception. 

 In working uphill if work is unexpectedly slow and the fire spreads 

 along the hill across the line of the counterfire, the whole work on 

 .that line is useless and a fresh start has to be made further 

 along from the bottom again. If working from the top and the 

 fire spreads along the hill below and across the line of counterfire, 

 there is always a good chance of successfully slanting the counter- 

 fire along the hill downwards and outwards to ring in the spread- 

 ing fire. 



The greatest drawback to counterfiring downhill is that every 

 one moves too quickly downhill and once down no one wants to 

 go back, even a few paces, and great care has to be taken to have 

 a reliable official to keep back men to put out stumps and make all 

 safe behind. 



In laying out the line of a counterfire always avoid having trees 

 just on the edge of the burnt area, clearing round them when 

 necessary and preventing the fire from reaching them. Also try 

 and prevent dry trees or stumps from catching fire close to the 

 edge of a counterfire, a faw minutes extra work in this way will 

 save hours of watching afterwards and reduce the likelihood of 

 the fire breaking out again. 



Wooden rakes save much time in clearing the ground for 

 starting a counterfire, but they must be well made so that constant 

 replacing of teeth is not required. All watchers must have these 

 rakes and there should be spare supplies at each Forest Guard's 

 and firewatcher's cJiaukis. 



(iv) When the running fire has been put out, danger is by 

 no means past and the extinction of burning stumps, 

 watch of tall burning trees etc. has to be arranged. 

 It has been found that burying burning stumps with 

 earth is dangerous though under control it may be of 

 temporary use. 



