S Frr.3 



?; 17. A. n 



3uporvlBOra f Meeting. Can Francisco 



It ROftn without naylnp that ouooeas In fire prO- 

 teotion PS in anything else worth while, rceans organiza- 

 tion and ayetem. At present one of the ohief difficult!! 

 to be ~^et With in th* organization Of AH effective patrol 

 Qyotor, ifl that of BoOUring ir.en who art fitted for the 

 work. TO (ret the greatest sfficiency means that every wan 



t do hit beat. TO talte inexperienced and untried men 

 from everyday affair* io apt to result In impaired efficiency. 



For a fire patrol organization to reach ito higheot 

 etate of usefulness evwy man must bo active, keenly alert, 

 trained to the v.-ork, and responsive to discipline. Such a 

 perfect organization at present, seems out of our reach* 

 Our forest W6rk in not Intensive enough to carry an ideal 

 protective organization* Only development can remedy this* 

 Under our OUrfent condltiona, a small regular working force 

 must be addod to heavily, by a fire patrol organization, 

 for a few raOnths of each year. 



Tlif problem that confronts the Supervieor la how to 

 accomplish nartltnum protection at a raininturc cost. If I were 

 asked to outline briefly, what T?as needed for a perfectly 

 cafe fire protection plan for a heavily wooded forest, T 

 would say to begin with,- a trained body of mounted nen, 

 Organized and equipped for firo fighting and patrol* These 

 men to bo Stationed in Mtnall eqUadB at strategic point* all 

 Over the POTOst; a oystOtt) Of trailn and roaJe so devised 

 that the men could be moved rapidly In any direction, at a 

 dements notice; lookouts for the high peaks with a few 

 stationed on lower elevatione Where more detail is necessary; 

 riding patrol from the equipped stations to cover the routes 

 of travel and most dangerous areaa. The whole scheme to be 

 tied in with a properly devised telephone system which will 

 pornit of immediate coinnunication throughout; sufficient 

 supplies, horsefeed and fire fighting equipment, to be kept 

 at the stations to provide for both regular and emergency 

 use. This arrangement of men to be divided and operated 

 by districts, the whole to be commanded from a properly 

 located center. 



This approaches military methods but it is my be- 

 lief that the Forest Service can never hope to uarantee 

 absolute fire protection at reasonable co 't, in hot and 

 dry climates without the cooperation of th tfllitary arm 

 of the Government. 



7. 



