1 1914 



Division of Forestry 

 University of California 



PART V. PROTECTION OF THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 



FIRE DANGER. 



Fire is an ever-present danger on the National Forests. The great size of 

 the Forests compared with the size of the patrolling force, the difficulty of 

 reaching remote areas across miles of wilderness, the dry air and light rainfall 

 in parts of the West, the prevalence of lightning in the mountains, and the 

 constant use of fire in the daily life of the people and in the industries all com- 

 bine to make the hazard exceptional. 



Among the chief causes of fire are railroads, lightning, campers, slash burn- 

 ing, incendiarism, and steam sawmills. The great fires of August, 1910, which 

 swept northern Idaho and western Montana, destroyed many millions of dollars 

 worth of timber and 85 human lives and cost the United States $830,000 for fire 

 fighting. Like all other great conflagrations, these began with small fires which 

 were fanned into fury by gales of wind. A small fire may at any time spread 

 into a conflagration, and fires, matches, and burning tobacco should be used as 

 carefully in the forest as they are in the home. Carelessness in this respect 

 may mean the loss of lives, homes, stock, and forage, and of a vast amount of 

 timber which belongs equally to all' citizens. 



Fires may start in a region remote from supplies and water and reach 

 vast proportions before a party of fire fighters can get to the scene, no matter 

 how promptly the start is made. By far the best plan, therefore, is to pre- 

 vent fires rather than to depend upon fighting them once they start. This sub- 

 ject has been given the most earnest attention by the Forest Service. During 

 the danger season, the main attention of supervisors and rangers is devoted to 

 preventing fire. Extra men are employed, the Forests are systematically pa- 

 trolled, and a careful lookout maintained from high points. Roads and trails 

 are so built that every part of the Forest may be quickly reached with pack 

 animals. Tools and food for fire fighters are stored at convenient places. The 

 ranger stations and lookout points are connected with the offices of the super- 

 visors by telephone, so that men may be quickly assembled to fight a dangerous 

 fire which the patrolman can not subdue alone. 



The cooperation of all Forest users is earnestly sought in the work of pre- 

 venting fire by informing the nearest forest supervisor or ranger of any fire 

 which may be discovered. 



FIRE TRESPASS. 



REGULATION T-l. The following acts are prohibited on lands of the United 

 States within National Forests: 



(a) Setting on fire or causing to be set on fire any timber, brush, or grass: 

 Provided, however, That this regulation shall not be construed to prohibit the 

 building of necessary camp fires or other fires for domestic or manufacturing 

 purposes. 



(b) Building a camp fire in leaves, rotten wood, or other places where it is 

 likely to spread, or against large or hollow log's or stumps, where it is difficult 

 to extinguish it completely. 



(c) Building a camp fire in a dangerous place, or during windy weather, 

 without confining it to holes or cleared spaces from which all vegetable matter 

 has been removed. 



(d) Leaving a camp fire without completely extinguishing it. (Issued 

 August 5, 1911, to take effect September 1, 1911.) 



The act of June 4, 1897, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make 

 rules and regulations for the protection of the National Forests and provides 

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