FIRES. 163 



covered in or near the woods. On being told that fire has 

 broken out in large woodlands, any forester or woodman should 

 at once collect as many men as possible, with axes, hoes, spades, 

 and besoms, and go to the spot ; and mounted messengers should, 

 if possible, be sent to the nearest villages for assistance. On 

 arriving at the fire, the head man should do what he thinks 

 most likely to prevent it spreading. If still only a small 

 ground-fire, it can often be put out by beating the burning 

 line with green boughs cut from trees, or with flat shovels, or 

 by sweeping it back to where it has already passed. If the 

 wind be strong, one must, on account of the smoke and heat, 

 begin at the flanks of the line of fire and work along these 

 towards the centre ; but when the air is still, or there is merely 

 a slight breeze, work may be begun simultaneously at different 

 points along the running edge of flame. 



If a strong breeze has enabled the fire to make considerable 

 headway, it is best to go ahead of the line of flame for some 

 distance and clear all inflammable material from a strip several 

 yards wide, in order to check its progress, although this entails 

 sacrificing part of the crop to save the rest. This measure is all 

 the more effective if a counter-fire can be started along the 

 inside of the cleared line, so as to eat its way along the ground 

 and meet the approaching fire, thus decreasing the danger of 

 sparks being carried across the cleared line. Compartment 

 boundaries, cart-tracks, and old paths form good base-lines, 

 easily found and cleared; and while this is being done, the 

 work of extinguishing along the edges of the line of fire should 

 also be vigorously carried on. 



If the ground-fire be likely to send sparks over the cleared 

 line, counter-firing is necessary i.e., setting fire to the inner 

 edge of the cleared line, and burning against wind, to meet the 

 advancing fire. This new line of fire should be cautiously 

 guarded to prevent it burning down wind and starting a new 

 fire. When once well started such a line of counter-fire eats its 



