4 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



legislation on the continent. So far as is known, neither the Federal 

 nor any State Government in the United States has enacted legislation 

 along this line which approaches this so far as placing the burden of fire 

 protection on the railways themselves is concerned. In Canada, action 

 of a closely similar character has since been taken in the Provinces of 

 British Columbia and Quebec as to railway lines not subject to the 

 jurisdiction of the Board of Railway Commissioners. An act in New 

 Brunswick would make it possible for special patrols to be required on 

 railways chartered by the Province and therefore not subject to the 

 Board, but this Act has not been enforced. 



It will be noted, that, by the terms of the Railway Act above quoted, 

 the issuance of orders and regulations by the Board is required, in order 

 to make effective the provisions as to fire-protective appliances, special 

 patrols, the regulation of locomotive fuel, and the construction of fire- 

 guards. The latter question occupied the attention of the Board from 

 a very early date, and hearings were held in the west on the subject of 

 fire-guards as early as 1904. The question of fire-protective appliances 

 on locomotives was also given early consideration, as was that of the 

 great fire danger caused by the use of lignite coal as locomotive fuel. 

 After most careful consideration, an Order (No. 3245) was issued 

 under date of July 4th, 1907, by the late Chief Commissioner Killam, 

 fully covering the question of fire-protective appliances on locomotives, 

 prohibiting the use of lignite coal as locomotive fuel and requiring 

 the construction of fire-guards along railway lines in Alberta and 

 Saskatchewan. 



Complications having arisen as to the enforcenient of the provisions 

 of this Order relating to the construction of fire-guards, these provisions 

 were rescinded by the issuance of a new Order (No. 15995) dated Feb- 

 ruary 16, 191 2, modifyiag the procedtue in case of objection by a private 

 owner to the construction of fire-guards across his land, and making 

 some other changes of a minor nature in the terms of the Order. 



Application by British Columbia Government 



'T'HE first great stimulus, which ultimately brought about the next 

 ■■■ and so far the final revision of the fire regulations, was given 

 by the Government of British Columbia, when it made application to 

 the Board in 1909, for the issuance of regrdations, which should 

 provide additional and adequate protection from railway fires to the 

 great forest resources of that Province. It was shown that the use of 

 fire-protective appliances on locomotives, as required by the 1907 order 

 of the Board, while highly essential, did not provide sufficient protec- 

 tion. The requirement for the construction of fire-guards applied only 



