FOREST FIRES 137 



In certain seasons in these large forest sections many fires are 

 started by the carelessness of hunters and fishermen. Probably 

 the most common kind of fires set by this class is due to aban- 

 doned camp fires. One cannot be too careful in the building of 

 a fire in the woods to surround it with a ditch dug down to 

 mineral soil, so that the fire cannot spread in the duff. When 

 leaving a camp fire one should be certain that it is completely 

 out. Hunters and fishermen, as well as others, also start a good 



By permission of the Connecticut State Forester. 



Fig. 50. — A train on an upgrade casting sparks on the adjoining woodland. Fortunately 



this has been burned over and is in condition to act as a fire line. At the left the work 



of burning over a strip next the track is in progress. 



many fires by carelessly throwing down lighted stubs of cigars 

 or cigarettes and burning matches. It is hard to realize how 

 easily a fire may be set in this way in dry weather. Hunters, 

 after hedgehogs and coons in the north and possums in the south, 

 often start forest fires in trying to smoke the animals out of 

 hollow trees. 



In farm communities most forest fires start through careless- 

 ness in burning brush. Many people seem to be entirely lacking 

 in common sense in selecting a time and place for burning brush 



