240 PROTECTION OF WOODLANDS. 



when there is any steady breeze, the smoke and heat carried out 

 in front of the fire are generally so strong and inconvenient as to 

 restrict measures to the sides and flanks in the first instance, after 

 which gradual efforts must be made to head and stop it. 



In this last case, when the breeze is strong and steady, and the 

 fire has at the same time already gained a foothold and extended 

 over any considerable area, it is advisable to push on some 

 distance ahead of the line of flame and clear a strip of several 

 yards in width, so as to check its progress by removing the 

 inflammable material requisite for its support. This measure 

 can of course only prove successful when undertaken sufficiently 

 far ahead of the fire to let all the operations be completed before 

 the latter reaches the line cleared and fired ; it necessarily entails 

 the deliberate sacrifice of a portion of the area in order to save 

 the crops lying behind. Compartment lines, and old pathways or 

 cart-tracks for the extraction of timber, form good points at which 

 to commence such operations, as they can be easily and quickly 

 cleared, and altogether afford a good basis to work upon. Whilst 

 this measure is being carried out, the work of extinguishing the 

 fire along the edges should also of course be proceeded with 

 simultaneously. 



When the ground-fire is strong, and the danger of its over- 

 leaping such a check is imminent, or even at all probable, it is 

 also advisable to set fire along the inner edge of this cleared lin< 

 so as to burn against the wind and meet the fire which it is thi 

 intended to check. For prudential reasons, however, a regul 

 cleared .fire-path or ordinary protective line in the forest ought 

 usually to be selected as the base of operations, so as to obviat 

 the danger of sparks being blown into the crops lying behim 

 This operation is especially useful when there is a strong bi 

 blowing, so as to diminish the risk of sparks being carried it 

 across the cleared line when the original fire eats its way up 

 it. Great care is necessary in starting the contrary fire, and the 

 line should be manned with a sufficient number of persons to see 

 that, in place of burning against the wind, it does not burn in 

 the opposite direction and aggravate the damage it was intended 

 to put an end to. When once, however, this line of fire has been 

 well started it soon effects its object, for owing to the ascent of 

 the heated air from the main line of fire the air is drawn towards 

 it, and thus attracts the air in advance, and with it the contrary 



