BRUSH DISPOSAL PROBLEM 57 



(2) A corollary to the above rule is : "In cases where clean 

 burning is not required, in addition to a fire-break of not less than 

 150 feet in width, to be burned around such an area of slash, a 

 strip not less than 150 feet wide should be burned along each side 

 of any form of right-of-way traversing the slash area. This 

 general rule applies specifically to logging railroads in all locations, 

 and will be of value not only in connection with clean rights-of-way, 

 decreasing the danger of fire being set by locomotives, but in order 

 that the strips may serve as lines of defence in fighting fires. 



(3) "Where the land being cut over is to be cleared and used 

 at once for agriculture, piling and clean biuning is advisable." 

 Clean burning will ordinarily be done in any event on such lands. 

 It is best that it be done under supervision of forest officers and at a 

 specified time. This is advisable because many forest fires have 

 originated from the burning of brush on farm lands at wrong 

 times. 



(4) "Where operators have been permitted to postpone one 

 burning until spring, when the snow is going or gone, times should be 

 selected for burning when the fire will not run freely on the ground. 

 A sufficient force of men shovild be on hand to surely prevent fire 

 escaping." The selection of times for burning when the fire will 

 not run on the ground has a dual piirpose. It is this : When fire 

 will run on the ground the danger of its escaping is increased. 

 Ftui;hermore, running fires are nunous to any valuable reproduction 

 which may exist, of any seed which may lie on the groimd, and 

 to the ground cover itself. 



(s) " In piling brush for burning, care should be taken not to 

 make pUes in close proximity to any green timber, old or young, 

 which may have been left standing. This wiU prevent the injury 

 of the trees when the brush is btumed. ' ' The rule should be especial- 

 ly observed in regard to mature trees which have been left standing 

 to secure reseeding. Equal care should be taken in regard to 

 yoimg timber left standiag on forest ground. 



(6) "Whenever circumstances will permit, required burning 

 should be done during the winter, as cutting proceeds." This, 

 because winter burning as cutting proceeds insures the proper 

 disposal of the slash, and leaves no opportunity for the operator 

 to neglect the work. Furthermore, it is usually the cheapest 

 method of securing effective disposal. Also, when a large area 

 of slash is left unbvuned imtU spring, there is always a chance that 

 the snow will disappear rapidly and be followed by a dry period. 

 Thus, unless the work of burning is begun and diligently pushed 

 as soon as conditions will permit, serious danger of fires escaping 

 will occur. Accordingly, the work of burning may then in some 

 cases have to be discontinued before completion. Hence, danger- 

 ous areas of slash may exist in the fire season which would not 

 occiu- had the slash in question been burned closely behind the 

 cutting. 



The six rules in the above series apply particularly to pine slash. 

 Rules 4 and 5 apply to any form of slash which is to be burned. 



