160 APPENDIX. 



possibilititH of one Eanger alone. In such cases it is often best to seek for 

 help. 



In fighting fires of this kind, the character and condition of the woods, 

 the A^eather, and even the time of day, ha\'e so much to do with the case 

 that a set of general directions has little value, and the experience and 

 good judgment of the Ranger mean everything. 



Generally, it may be said that the proper tools to fight the fire are the 

 shovel, mattock, ax and rake. 



For this reason the ranger should always carry at least shovel and 

 ax during all the dangerous season, so that he is never unarmed against 

 this arch enemy of the woods. 



In humid, heavy timber the fire usually travels slowly, and a few men, 

 if persistent, can keep it in check by trenching, though they can never 

 extinguish it, and must therefore watch it until a rain helps them out. 



In drj', open pine woods the fire travels faster, and it is often best to 

 go some distance and hunt the most open and clean ground, trench, and 

 back fire from there. 



In handling back fires great care is required to avoid the useless burn- 

 ing of forest. 



In all kinds of fires, the night or the early morning hours are the best 

 time to work, whenever any choice of time exists; for nearly all forest 

 fires die down more or less during the cool of the night, and then flare 

 up again during the heat of the day. 



Generally, we may say : 



(a) Protect the valuable timber rather than the brush or waste. 



(b) Never leave a fire unless driven out, or until it is put out. 



(c) Young sapling thickets suffer more than old, mature timber. 



(d) A surface fire in open pine woods, though not dangerous, does 

 great harm in destroying the seedling growth. 



(e) A fire rushes up hill, but crosses a crest slowly, and is more or 

 less retarded in traveling down. Therefore, if possible, use the crest of 

 the ridge and the bottom as your lines of attack. 



(f) A good trail, a road, a stream, an open park, check or "bring 

 down" the fire. Use them whenever possible. 



(g) A bit of thinking often saves labor and makes work successful. 

 Ill-planned efforts suggested by haste and excitement rarely lead to 

 success. 



Expenses. — ^Miile the State is willing and anxious to prevent and 

 fight fires, and is willing to go to <-onsiderable expense therefor, it is 

 unreasonable to suppose that an unlimited amount of money is to be 

 devoted to this effort. Experience has proved conclusively that in most 

 oases a reasonable efl'ort is all that is justified, and that a fire which 

 cannot be controlled by 20 to 40 men will run away from 100 or even 

 more men, since heat and smoke in such cases make the direct fight an 

 impossibility. 



Unusual expenditures Avill not be tolerated. They are unnecessary, 

 wasteful, and even mischievous. For it is claimed, in not a few cases, 

 that the fire was started and thrived because of the opportunity for a 

 job. In and about nearly every Reserve it is ])ossible to enlist "the co- 

 operation of the better citizens, and thus to have such an agreement 

 that in time of need there can be had a sufficient number of men, and 

 men of the proper kind. A crowd of men liastilv gathered about the 



