ANNUAL REPORT 1914 27 



questionably the best organized fire fighting force in this section 

 of Idaho. 



The only criticism that I can offer on the whole is that not 

 enough stress is placed upon early attempts to extinguish fires. 

 The past season brings out the fact more forcibly than ever that 

 more attention must be given to the suppression of fires in their 

 first stages and that what might be considered lavish expenditure 

 of funds on small fires be resorted to in the future. This fire 

 first broke out on July 20 and up to July 27 or 28 only about 

 twenty men were engaged in fighting it. There is no doubt that 

 the men in charge of the fire felt reasonably sure that it was 

 safely entrenched and that there was no danger of its spreading. 

 In view of the methods heretofore in vogue in fire control they 

 were undoubtedly justified in keeping the expense of the fire 

 down by simply trenching and patrolling it. They were men of 

 good judgment, well versed in woocraft and fire fighting, per- 

 fectly familiar with local conditions, such as prevailing winds, 

 storms, etc., yet their method failed. It appears to me that had 

 the force on the fire the first or second day been increased to 

 fifty, seventy-five or one hundred men, the trench quickly com- 

 pleted, and then the entire crew put at work on the fire with dirt 

 and water (water when available), it is likely the fire could have 

 been controlled. Figuring the rate of pay at $3.50 per day, one 

 hundred men up to July 28 would have meant a cost of $3,150.00. 

 It is a question if the fire would have burned until July 28 had 

 one hundred men been placed on it at the beginning. I believe it 

 is reasonable to assume that it could have been put entirely out 

 by that number of men in the time stated. In view of the past, 

 however, it is doubtful if the man in charge of such a fire could 

 have justified to his own satisfaction, or the satisfaction of his 

 superiors, the expenditure of such a sum on so small an area. 

 Yet, in view of approximately $80,000.00 really spent on this 

 fire, $3,150.00 pales into insignificance. 



The fotlatch Timber Protective Association is unquestion- 

 ably in better shape to cope with a bad fire situation than any other 

 organization in Idaho. The Potlatch Lumber Company's woods 

 and mill crew will ordinarily aggregate from eight hundred to 

 one thousand men. This is an organized force with the over- 

 head built up and tested. The commissary department is capable 

 of handling, under pressure, perhaps twice the ordinary number 

 of men. Still with this well organized force it was impossible 

 to check the fire until it had run over an area of over 16,000 acres. 

 It appears that some method other than great numbers 011 a fire 

 after it has earned headway must be resorted to to insure any 

 great degree^of fire protection. That fires must be controlled 

 their firs't stages i s obvious. A system of quick detection, rapid 



