346 



Canadian Forestry Journal, January, ipi6. 



connections to the towns named. 

 These stations have been in actual 

 use only one full season; that of 

 1914. The 1915 season was not haz- 

 ardous enough to warrant putting- 

 lookout men on duty. In 1914, 

 however, they showed clearly the 

 advantage of their positions. Al- 

 though in the worst part of the sea- 

 son they were rendered useless by 

 smoke in the valleys, yet during the 

 preceding period many fires were 

 located and quickly attacked, that 

 would probably have cost several 

 times the value of the lookout sta- 

 tion, had they not been discovered 

 so quickly. 



It is planned to continue this sys- 

 tem and add other stations from 

 time to time. With three more look- 

 out stations we shall have practi- 

 cally every acre of watershed and 

 merchantable timber in the valley 

 directly under the view of forest of- 

 ficers in the danger season. 



(c) Control. — The control prob- 

 lem is one of the great moment, and 

 we are still in the experimental stage 

 as to the best method of attacking 

 fires in certain types, best imple- 

 ments to be used and the best means 

 of transportation, as well as many 

 other problems. 



Owing to the inflammability of 

 the ground cover and the forest it- 

 self in most types, fires assume large 

 proportions in a very short time. 

 Quick arrival at the fires is there- 

 fore essential, and here it is we can 

 take advantage of our excellent road 

 system. Were it not for the roads I 

 believe that practically the entire 

 area of range would be burned over 

 every year. As it is, guards arrive 

 quickly at range fires, usually near 

 towns, and get them under control 

 without delay. 



The somewhat slower rate of 

 spread where the timber is thicker, 

 allows of more time, which is neces- 

 sary, as the roads are not so plenti- 

 ful nor so conveniently located. As 

 settlements advance more roads will 

 be built, until practically the entire 



hazardous area of the district will be 

 within easy reach of a road. Then 

 with automobiles, for the transpor- 

 tation of men, tools, and supplies, we 

 shall have our communication prob- 

 lem solved. 



State of Organisation. 



The control force at present in the 

 valley consists of the District For- 

 ester, one Ranger, and six tempor- 

 ary, 4^/2 months, guards, with pro- 

 vision for an increase of short term 

 patrolmen and special patrolmen 

 hired by the day as the season ad- 

 vances. Day laborers are hired as 

 they are needed for actual fire fight- 

 ing. 



This plan of organization allows 

 of great flexibility. As the hazard 

 increases or decreases, so men are 

 put on or laid off. The only defect 

 is the difficulty of procuring the 

 same men each year for short terms 

 of employment. If some way can 

 be devised to keep these men always 

 on hand a great step forward will be 

 taken and the efficiency of the force 

 advanced at least fifty per cent. 



Since the Forest Branch has es- 

 tablished in 1912 there have been 

 only three fire seasons. It can hard- 

 ly be said, therefore, that a perman- 

 ent organization has been created. 

 Permanent would seem to presume 

 a long term of service as a stable 

 unit. It will take a great many 

 years' experience to determine just 

 what permanent force is most suit- 

 able to cover all conditions and 

 serve as a skeleton for the temporary 

 increases made necessary by in- 

 creased hazards. 



Each year, however, we come a 

 little nearer, each fall we are able to 

 check up the past season's work and 

 see a little progress, and each spring 

 correct in our organizations the mis- 

 takes and shortcomings of the pre- 

 vious year. 



The Lesson of Experience. 



The summer of 1913 was wet, and 

 the hazard was slight. The damage 

 resulting from forest fires therefore 



