FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 11 



CIRCULARS OF INSTRUCTIONS. 



The following are among the instructions sent out each 

 spring from the office of the Forestry Commissioner: 



DUTIES OF FIRE WARDENS. 



( STATE OF MINNESOTA, 



Circular No. 31. ■< office of forestry commissioner. 

 I St. Paul, Minn., April 11, igo8. 



By Section 1782, Revised Laws, Minnesota, 1905, 

 Supervisors of Towns, Mayors of Cities, Presidents of 

 Village Councils are Fire Wardens. They shall go to 

 the place of danger to Prevent Fires and to Control Fires. 

 They shall in emergencies Compel Assistance. 



No one can tell when a season like that preceding the Hinckley 

 calamity, September i, 1894, may occur, and too much care cannot 

 be observed in regard to fires in dangerous localities in seasons of 

 drought. A small fire, if left to smoulder and burn, might in a 

 very dry period, with a sudden and terrific gale of wind, cause a 

 great calamity. The only safe way in case of such fire is, if a 

 warden in whose district it occurs cannot entirely extinguish the 

 fire, to summon assistance and make such a break around it that 

 it cannot spread. The law is explicit in making it the duty of a 

 warden to "go to the place of danger" to CONTROL fires and to 

 PREVENT fires. They shall promptly INVESTIGATE and 

 REPORT fires and make COMPLAINT before a magistrate for 

 violation of the law. 



Wardens have other public duties, but none of their duties is 

 more respectable than that of saving their districts from a catas- 

 trophe that is liable from forest and prairie fires. If such catas- 

 trophe should occur through their neglect it would be a lasting 

 discredit to their memory. On the other hand, where their vigil- 

 ance results in the preservation of life and property in their com- 

 munities, they deserve public gratitude. 



The only safety is to insist that people shall be careful about 

 fire. Wardens must be watchful, energetic, strict. 



C. C. ANDREWS, 



Forestry Commissioner. 



