The Pire Situation In another part f the RA3TC8H Is given 



a summary of the essential facts con- 



4eerning the fire season Just past. Several stand out sig- 

 nifioantlv. The decrease of nan-caused fires points de- 

 cidedly to the value of cooperation and publicity, rhe 

 hearty help received this year from settlers and users has 

 enabled us* to reduce our prevention expense by ^4000 from 

 last year's figures, and our suppression oost has dropped 

 from V-300 to less than y70C, whioh includes rangers* time. 

 In one of the worst potential fire seasons we have ever had, 

 the situation has been hrjadled by a force less by 25 men 

 than the average number of men enployed annually in the 

 preceding five seasons. The fire-line along the western 

 boundary was used vrlth remarkable success in the Marlposa 

 District for ten miles of its length, as a base to beck- 

 fire against flames which onrae up against the Forest 

 boundc.ry In a solid front. Our report time of on minute 

 and six seconds per fire showed a decrease of seven minutes 

 and fifty-four seconds fron last year. The average travel 

 time was 44 minutes as against 71 minutes In 1914, and 

 the dlstanoe traveled was 5.5 miles as against 4.8 miles 

 of the year before. The rate of travel was one mile In 

 eight minutes as opposed to one mile In fifteen minutes 

 in the previous season. 



An estimated area of 125,000 acres was burnt over just 

 outside the Purest boundaries. This, compared with the odd 

 four thousand acres of the some class of cover which were 

 allowed to burn over Inside (because of the small value of 

 the Government property threatened) , shows clearly the bene- 

 fits of organization and cooperation. Looking back, we can 

 say that we are not ashamed of the record, because It spells 

 progress. To the ranger, lookout and fireman force the 

 greater credit is due for the splendid results. 



Quick Business. On August 16 the Supervisor was informed 



by a lumber company operating within the 

 tierra Forest that because its annual out was showing a 



shortage ever the estimates on its private lands, certain 

 overnment timber to the amount of approximately four nil- 

 ion feet was desired to enable the ornpany to complete its 



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