256 



WOOD AND FOREST. 



of the branches as the flames seize one after the other, leaping from crown 

 to crown, rising high above the tree tops in whirling wreaths of fire, and 

 belching forth clouds of smoke hundreds of feet still higher. As the heated 

 air rises more and more, rushing along with a sound like that of a thousand 

 foaming mountain toirenls, burning brands are carried along, whirling on 

 across the firmament like evil spirits of destruction, bearing the fire miles 

 away from its origin, then falling among the dry brush heaps of windfall or 

 slashing, and starting another file to burn as fiercely as the first. ♦ ♦ * 

 There is something horrible in the slow, steady approach of a top fire. 

 It comes on with the pitiless determination of unavoidable destiny, not 

 faster tlian a man can walk. But there is no stopping it. You cannot fight 

 a fire that seizes tree top after tree top, far above your reach, and showers 

 down upon tlie pigmy mortals that attempt to oppose it an avalanch of 

 burning branches, driving them away to escape the torture and death that 

 threatens them. (Bruncken, American Forests and Forestry/, 106-109.) 



Fig". 108. Fit'lninir Forest Fire. f. .^. For^.-/ S\:rTi 



Koal forest fires are not iisnnlly put out; men only try to limit 

 tlicm. A eomnion metliod of limitation is to cut trenches thrti the 

 duff so that the fire cannot pass across. Fig. 108. In serious cases 



