53 



Failure of Protection under Prevention and Suppression Method 



Losses Occurring 



While the majority of fires occurring each year 

 upon the National I'orests of California are detected 

 soon after they are started, still there is always a 

 certain amount of damage done between the time the fire 

 is started and the time it is detected and suppressed. 

 Consequently, while it may seem that this loss is in- 

 signifiCRnt, it^-readily amounts to a sum that should not 

 be overlooked. According to Forest Service statietics, 

 (1908-1918), there is an annual average loss of |l33,43l, 

 on the lands within the National Forest boundaries, of 

 California, of which #75,982.00 is in timber, $52,173.00 

 in reproduction, and $5,276.00 in forage. To this sum 

 should be added the costs of suppression - I71.636.OO, 

 and of prevention - #1.64.932.00, maicing a total of 

 $369,999.00, the average annual loss due to fires. 

 This sum when apportioned over the extensive holdings 

 of the Forest Service in California amounts to only a 

 little over 4-g-i^ per acre per year. 



Uon-insurance of Private Holdings 



The private owner of timberland while afforded pro- 

 tection to a certain extent has no definite assurance 

 that his tree crop will remain intact during the fire 



