38 First Annual Report of the 



which occur during such seasons, has been comparatively small. 

 The fire season began about April 20th and continued, coincident 

 with the severe drought, until August 20th. The increase in the 

 number of fires caused by lightning is remarkable. During the 

 severe fire season of 1908 there were reported but nine fires due 

 to this agency, while in 1909 there were only eight, and in 1910 

 there were eleven; but during the past year, a total of sixty-five 

 was reported. The prevalence of lightning and its influence in 

 causing fires is indicated by the repeated damage to telephones 

 maintained at the mountain stations, although protected by light- 

 ning arresters, and the origin of fires in inaccessible and unfre- 

 quented places, also fires starting at the time electric storms oc- 

 curred. There were many places in the Adirondacks where no 

 rain of consequence or only local showers occurred for nearly four 

 weeks and in the northeastern portion the reduction of rainfall 

 was greatest. The efficiency and value of the present fire force is 

 strikingly indicated when the fire loss and area burned in our 

 forest sections is compared with what did occur in Maine, On- 

 tario or the Lake States the present year under similar conditions. 

 The largest fires occurred during the latter part of April and 

 early in May. These fires spread rapidly but were confined to 

 denuded areas, destroyed but little property and occurred largely 

 before the full regular summer force was inaugurated. 



All cases of reported incendiary fires have been investigated. 

 Through the agency of this Commission three men were indicted 

 for setting fires in Ulster county and one in Franklin county. 

 Other cases are in preparation. 



The accompanying table shows the acreage burned and resulting 

 damage due to forest fires during the year in the ninety-six towns. 

 The statistics are arranged both by counties and causes. An 

 examination of these figures shows that but one-half of 1 per 

 cent, of the total area (7,232,000 acres) under protection suffered, 

 although each fire patrolman covered a territory aggregating over 

 100,000 acres. The expenses of this fire patrol service, including 

 all salaries and expenses and a fair proportion of the cost of 

 mountain stations, was but six-tenths of one cent per acre. AH 

 this was accomplished under the severe conditions due to extreme 

 drought. 



