1426 



Canadian Forestry Journal, December, 1917 



One of the most difficult problems 

 in connection with fire detection is to 

 keep up lines of communication. 

 The look-out tower without com- 

 munication by wire is of small value. 

 The look-out towers in Nepigon 

 Reserve are tied up to 130 miles of 

 telephojie line. We have at. present 

 about 200 miles of telephone line 

 available in Forest Reserves. 

 Throughout most of the settlements 

 in the Clay Belt where towers have 

 been built local telephone lines are 

 available. Along some of the rail- 

 ways it will be possible to tie up with 

 the local stations. 



This whole question of communi- 

 cation will reciuire special attention. 

 We have not rushed into the con- 

 struction of telephone lines on a large 

 scale, feeling that more study should 

 be given the problem. 



Reaching and Fighting Fire 

 Locating forest fires is a com- 

 paratively simple matter. Reaching 

 them in time to take effective meas- 

 ures is the serious problem. In many 

 of our districts the only way of 

 reaching interior fires is by long canoe 

 routes and trails. However, in such 

 districts fire hazards are usually small 

 owing to the inaccessibility of the 

 territory. 



Where roads, navigable water or 

 railways make rapid transportation 

 possible there are various methods 

 to be employed which help in solving 

 the problem. 



During the past season we have 

 employed three small power boats 

 along the shores of Georgian Bay. 

 We have larger power boats on Lake 

 of the Woods, Winnipeg River, Lake 

 Nepigon and Lake Temagami. In 

 addition to the above seven power 

 boats we have several outboard 

 motors which are primarily intended 

 to assist Chiefs in covering territory 

 where previously they had long canoe 

 routes on the larger waters. 



Using a Fire Boat 

 The most efficient arrangement to 

 be made with a power boat is such as 

 we have on Lake Nepigon. The boat 

 remains the major portion of the time 

 at a definite headquarters which can 



be reached by telephone from the 

 outlying stations and look-outs. This 

 boat is equipped with fire pump and 

 1000 feet of 13^2 inch hose, also other 

 fire fighting equipment and can pro- 

 ceed to a fire with the least possible 

 delay. At present we have three 

 power boats equipped in this manner. 

 On railway lines we have five power 

 motors used for inspection and carry- 

 ing fire fighting equipment. In pat- 

 rolling some 80 velocipedes are being 

 used and such mechanical attach- 

 ments as the Smith motor which are 

 being tested. 



Last Spring five motor-trucks were 

 purchased and these are giving good 

 results in the districts where roads 

 are passable. 



185 Canoes in Service 

 This organization carries about 

 $100,000 worth of equipment. In 

 addition to blankets, canvas buckets 

 and minor equipment, it was neces- 

 sary to purchase this season 18 5 

 canoes at a cost of $10,000.00; 200 

 tents at a cost of $3,000.00; 28 new 

 velocipedes at a cost of $1500.00. 



One of the problems connected with 

 this work is the overhauling and re- 

 pairing of equipment and its proper 

 storage. This has required the build- 

 ing of central storehouses. Five 

 storehouses have been built and 

 several others leased temporarily. 



Record of a Busy Season 

 Improvement work such as con- 

 struction of trails, etc., can only be 

 carried out efficiently after the field 

 organization has been perfected. Our 

 organization being less than a year 

 old has much to learn but the follow- 

 ing are some of the more important 

 improvements carried out this past 

 Summer. 



New fire rangers cabins built 44 



New docks or boat landings 18 



Acres of fire hazard burned 3356 



Miles of old trails and canoe 



routes cleaned out 1031 



Miles of new trails opened 514 



Fire signs posted 65000 



In this connection I will refer to the 

 Permit System. Owing to a very wet 

 season in the Temiskaming country 

 this system was not given a severe 



