24 FOREST LAWS of CALIFORNIA. 



The best tools for fighting fire are the shovel, mat- 

 tock, ax, and wet sacks. Rakes, hoes and brush hooks 

 are also useful. Other requisites are canteens or water 

 bottles, and lanterns or candles for night work. 



If possible, stop the fire by means of a trail or 

 trench. Where the fire burns slowly in open timber 

 pinch it out by knocking the burning material back 

 on to the burned area. Put out logs and stumps by 

 throwing dirt on them. See that the fire burns over 

 the smallest area possible. Never leave burning 

 trees or snags near the fire line. Chop, saw, or blast 

 them down. Many fires well under control have broken 

 out again when a little additional work would have 

 made them quite safe. 



Work at night or in early morning instead of by 

 day, when this is possible. At night a six-inch trail 

 will often hold a fire that would leap a quarter mile 

 during the heat of the day. And at night less time is 

 wasted packing water to the fire fighters. 



Fires occurring in dense brush or thickets, or dur- 

 ing high winds may require back firing. Start your 

 back fire far enough in front so that you will have time 

 to complete your work before the main fire reaches you. 

 Start it from a road, trail or stream if possible. If not, 

 cut a trail, scrape it clean, light your fire, and guard 

 your trail. 



Back fire along the top or bottom of a ridge, rather 

 than midway up the slope. In narrow canyons back fire 

 from a trail built a few feet from the bottom on the 

 opposite slope from the fire, to prevent rolling snags and 

 cones from jumping the line. Place burning logs up 

 down the slope to prevent their rolling down and start- 

 ing additional fires. Sand or earth thrown on a fire 

 is as effective as water. 



See to it that the ends of your back fire are safe. 

 Run them together, if possible, so that the fire is sur- 

 rounded, or else run them into portions of the main 

 fire that have burnt out, or to a stream or road. A 

 back fire is as bad as a forest fire unless it is perfectly 

 safe throughout its whole length. 



Watch the fire line after the fire is under control. 

 Sparks blown from burning snags, chunks thrown 



