64 Our Field and Forest Trees 



injures big trees too, by burning great holes into 

 their trunks. Then they are apt to be blown down, 

 and where their bark has been burned away their 

 wood is exposed, unprotected, to wood-eating in- 

 sects and tree-killing fungi (Fig. 20). 



The loss and ruin caused by forest fire Is both 

 direct and indirect. Let us think first of the direct 

 loss. Many human lives have been destroyed. 

 More than two thousand people perished during 

 the last century In forest fires raging In the United 

 States. In one month — August, 1910 — sev- 

 enty-seven fire-fighters lost their lives. 



Towns, homes, farms, factories, and railroad 

 bridges have been destroyed by flames fed to fury 

 in the standing woods. 



The great fire of 19 10 in Idaho, Oregon, and 

 Montana Is said to have eaten up six hundred and 

 fifty million dollars' worth of property. Towns 

 were entirely wiped out and the Inhabitants left 

 destitute. 



After such a conflagration has come and gone, 

 the people and the land begin to suffer In many 

 ways the indirect evil consequences. Nearly every- 

 one has lost heavily, and some people have lost 

 all they owned. Taxable property has been de- 

 stroyed, and no one can afford to pay high taxes. 

 There is not enough money forthcoming to pay 

 for good roads or for good schools. All sorts of 

 lumber and timber become dear; wood can no 

 longer be cut near at hand, but must be brought 



