REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 329 



law to divide his town into districts, in each of which he shall appoint a deputy or 

 district firewarden who shall have the same authority to " warn " out a posse of men 

 to fight fire. Neither the town firewardens nor district firewardens are paid any salary; 

 but they are entitled" to receive from the town $2.50 per day for their services while 

 actually employed at a forest fire. The men who are ordered out, or who assist, at a 

 fire are entitled to $2.00 per day for their services while at work. 



In providing for the appointment of district firewardens the intention of the law 

 was that the town should be so divided into districts that the smoke of a fire could be 

 seen by the deputy as soon as it arose, and that no time need be lost in sending for 

 the town firewarden. In extinguishing a forest fire much depends on promptness, and 

 in attacking it before it can gain any headway. Hence, it is the duty of the district 

 firewarden to go to a fire immediately with his men as soon as it is observed. Having 

 done this he can send word to the town firewarden whenever he can spare a man for 

 that purpose.- 



The duties of adjusting the amounts due the men for fighting fire, the 

 settlement of these accounts with the town, and the proper posting of the district with 

 printed placards containing the rules and regulations regarding the use of fire, devolve 

 upon the town firewarden. 



Under the law all expenses incurred in extinguishing a forest fire, for the services 

 of the men or otherwise, are a town charge and must be paid by the town. Payment 

 having been made, the town is entitled to a rebate from the State of one half the 

 amount thus expended. This applies, however, only to the towns within the sixteen 

 counties containing lands belonging to the Forest Preserve. Twelve of these counties, 

 including the Adirondack region, are in Northern New York, namely: Clinton, Essex, 

 Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Oneida, Saratoga, St. Lawrence, 

 Warren and Washington. The remaining four counties include the Catskill region, 

 namely: Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster. Outside of these counties the super- 

 visor of each town is authorized to act as firewarden ex officio ; and in these towns 

 there is no rebate from the State for expenses incurred in fighting fire. 



The most frequent causes of woodland fires in our State are the small fires started 

 by farmers for the purpose of burning brush, logs and stumps, in order to clear some 

 piece of land. These are known locally as fallow fires, and the operation is generally 

 alluded to as burning a "foller." This work as a rule is carelessly done, and as the 

 farmer always selects a dry time in order to get a good burn, as he terms it, the fire 

 escapes too frequently into the adjoining forest. Having piled the brush and logs into 

 heaps for burning, the farmer seldom employs any extra help to guard against the 

 escape of the fire, and so when a breeze springs up, as is very apt to be the case, he is 

 unable to control the flames or prevent them from being driven into the adjoining 



