14 FOREST FIRES 



used with good results in some localities. They cost very 

 little and every owner of a woodlot that is at all frequented 

 by berry-pickers or campers should have such notices posted 

 in conspicuous places. 



The owner of woodlands can do much to prevent forest 

 fires by a proper application of the principles of forestry. 

 A woodlot that is kept in a thrifty condition and from which 

 most of the dying and dead material is removed in the 

 process of thinning is much less liable to injury from fire 

 than one on which the dry and inflammable material is 

 allowed to accumulate. And when plantations are made, a 

 judicious mixture of hardwoods and conifers may prevent 

 crown fires at a later period, as crown fires occur only in pure 

 coniferous stands. 



PART IV. FIRE SUPPRESSION A PUBLIC DUTY 



The protection of the lives and property of its citizens is 

 the duty of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts has recog- 

 nized its duty toward woodland property by the enactment of 

 laws designed to protect the owner against trespass, theft, 

 and fire. 



The laws intended to protect the owner against forest fires 

 provide for the appointment of firewards by the towns. These 

 firewards have charge of the prevention and extinguishment 

 of forest fires in their respective towns. They report to the 

 boards of selectmen who report in turn to the deputy chief of 

 District Police in Boston. In cities and towns where there 

 are regularly paid fire departments the engineers act as forest 

 firewards. The expense of forest fire protection is borne 

 entirely by the cities and towns. 



A study of the laws (p. 16) shows that they are defective 

 in several ways. In the first place, the system lacks a head. 

 Nominally the Deputy Chief of District Police is at its head ; 

 but the connection is not close and as construed by the officer 

 in charge involves only the receipt of reports and the investi- 

 gation of such fires as have occurred under suspicious cir- 

 cumstances. In other words, the head is negative, whereas, 



