RAILWAY FOREST FIRES 29 



Each Divisional Fire Inspector should have some definite 

 station, at which he can always be notified by railway officials 

 of fires occurring within his jurisdiction. The railway officials 

 concerned shoidd be notified of this address. Arrangements should 

 be made at the official station for the prompt forwarding of messages 

 to the Inspector, wherever he may chance to be in his district. 



The attitude of the Inspector should be so far as possible, 

 one of co-operation with the Company, rather than of criticism. 

 The direct decrease in fire losses and damage claims should render 

 the fire-protective work a paying investment on the part of the 

 Companies, assuming that no unreasonable requirements are made 

 of them. 



Probably, in most cases, difficulties can be readily adjusted 

 directly between the local Fire Inspector and the local representative 

 of the Company. However, where this is impracticable, the mat- 

 ter should at once be reported to the superior field officer, who wiU 

 communicate with the appropriate higher officials of the Company, 

 usually the General Superintendent. If the difficulty cannot be 

 satisfactorily adjusted in this way, a report should at once be for- 

 warded to the Chief Fire Inspector, by wire, collect, or by mail, 

 as may be appropriate tinder the circumstances. In each case 

 a definite recommendation should be included in the statement, 

 covering the action desired. Where reports are forwarded by mail, 

 ' a statement should also be included as to the extent to which the 

 matter has been taken up with the railway officials, and their 

 attitude in the case. 



The Inspector in charge of each portion of the organization 

 should consider himself responsible for securing protection from fire 

 within the territory to which he is assigned. In every case, the 

 plan of protection provided in the letter of the Chief Fire Inspector 

 to a railway company is subject to any needed change by authoriz- 

 ed field officers of the Board, and each Inspector shoidd without 

 hesitation initiate any action necessary to make the plan fit the 

 conditions as they may exist from time to time. In accordance 

 with the Regiilations and the instructions issued to the Com- 

 panies by the Chief Fire Inspector, relief, either temporary 

 or permanent, according to circumstances, should be granted the 

 Company from any reqiurements which are unnecessary. The 

 constant aim should be to secure efficient protection from fire 

 at a minimtmi of cost to the Company. So far as possible, the 

 administration should be in the field, and matters should be fully 

 taken up direct with railway officials. The Chief Fire Inspector 

 should be informed of modifications made in fire plans when the 

 regular periodical reports are submitted to Ottawa, at least once 

 each month. 



Each fire occurring along or near the right-of-way shoiild be 

 carefully investigated, and a report should be submitted to the 

 superior field officer, covering the cause of the fire, its extent, and 

 the class, amount, and value of property destroyed. Particular 

 care should also be taken to securp a check with regard to the 



