CHAPTER XVI. 105 



and large water canteens, besides the individual men's canteens. There 

 should be one man with a pack mule to carry water and rations, and, if 

 practicable, an extra mule to pack blankets and tools. Fires should 

 bo attacked direct with largest available force. Promptness is one 

 of the secrets of success in stopping fire. When wind is high, there 

 i3 generally nothing to be done beyond going along the s.des of the 

 Are, out of range of the wind, to keep it from lateral spreading. When 

 the wind permits, go well ahead of the fire, selecting natural fire 

 break aids where possible, and back fire. The rakes and shovels can 

 be well used here to make the back firing safe. An axe is often needed. 

 Sacks with a little dirt in them and green p.ne boughs are used to beat 

 cut fires. I believe a shovel is better. Care must be observed to see 

 that the accumulation of pine needles, often partly buried or out of sight, 

 does not carry fire underground past the fire line, and start it up again. 

 Fire on steep mountains starts small slides, and often sends large 

 boulders bounding down the mountains. Therefore, care must be 

 taken in attacking a forest fire that is coming down a hill. Another 

 trouble with a descending fire, especially on steep declivities, is the 

 fall of burning sticks or logs, which sometimes roll past the fire 

 fighters and start the fire below these. This is a dangerous position. 

 ±\ fire going up a mountain can only be tackled at the ridge or summit. 

 Ridges are natural fire breaks, and stop a great many forest fires. 

 Wind and fire is the dangerous combination. In California there is 

 during the dry season, when forest fires are usual, a trade wind that 

 often blows quite briskly during the day. This breeze dies out at 

 night, and is replaced by a very gentle down draft, generally in the 

 opposite direction to the trade wind. In the day the sun also dries and 

 heats the material, and makes the fire run more rapidly. Night and 

 early morning are consequently the most effective times to fight forest 

 fires. At night one is pretty sure to know whether a fire is out or not. 

 This is not so easy to know in the day. Dead trees burning have to 

 be watched or visited from time to time until they fall. A forest 

 patrol should select the points of fighting fire in any watershed under 

 its jurisdiction before there is any fire. This will greatly facilitate 

 such work as may be needed in a fire crisis. 



The response to fire signals to the patrol in the forest can be 

 prompt. The patrol, with three to ten men, together, if they reach 

 the ground promptly, can put out nine out of ten fires. What two 

 men can do in limiting and extinguishing a forest fire within a short 

 time after it starts, may taKe a hundred men to effect after it has 



