A STUDY OF LIGHT BUKtaKG IK CALIFOHITIA 



IMTRODUCTION 



Purpose of t h e Study 



Light Burning is the name applied to the method 

 of fire protection, which by a periodic burning over 

 of the entire forest floor with controlled fires, en- 

 deavors to prevent destructive and uncontrolled fires 

 within the forest. The question of light Burning has 

 been agitated in California since 1910, when the doc- 

 trine was first promulgated. But this problem has not 

 yet bden satisfactorily and definitely settled. It is 

 the purpose of this study to present in an unbiased man- 

 ner, all of the availa.ble data relating to Light Burn- 

 ing in California, with conclusions drawn from these 

 data. The present study treats Light Burning not only 

 in reference to merchantable timber and reproduction, 

 but also in its relation to brush fields, grazing, water- 

 sheds, soil and recreation grounds. 



Sources of Data 



The materials for this study were obtained from 

 the files of the office of District V, United States 

 Forest Service, San Francisco, California, from Mr. Wm. 

 0. Hodge, Jr., Chairman of the Light Burning Committee, 



