Forest Fires 63 



The most dangerous and destructive forest fires 

 can sometimes be put out only by what is called 

 back-firing. This Is done by starting a smaller 

 fire some distance ahead of the great one. The 

 second fire must be allowed to burn only against 

 the wind and toward the main blaze. When the 

 two fires meet, both must die for want of fuel. 

 To prevent the back fire from moving with the 

 wind It should be started on the windward side 

 of a road or a plowed field, or some other bound- 

 ary which It can be kept from crossing. Back- 

 firing Is a desperate remedy, and should never be 

 tried except by a person who knows just what to 

 do and how to do It. Excited or frightened peo- 

 ple are apt to start a back fire In the wrong place, 

 and make a second blaze almost as dangerous as 

 the first. 



The strength and speed of a fire depends so 

 much upon the wind that the first thing fire-fighters 

 must do Is to notice which way the wind blows. 

 Then let them put their efforts into the path the 

 flame must take. If It runs along the ground, 

 rake away from before it the dead leaves and 

 sticks and dig away the moss and leaf mold. If 

 no water is near, surface flame can be beaten out 

 with green boughs, or with spades and pitchforks. 

 Dirt or sand thrown into the fire is one of the 

 best means of quenching it. Sometimes when fire 

 runs along the ground It spares the big trees, kill- 

 ing outright only the small ones. But such a fire 



