82 



Second Annual Report of the 



The carelessness of smokers in dropping lighted matches, cigar 

 or cigarette stubs was the second greatest cause of fires during the 

 year. Our rangers were instructed to interview as many as pos- 

 sible of the persons who entered the woods and explain to them 

 the necessity of caution with regard to the use of matches, etc. 

 A great many fire notices have been posted, which also call the 

 attention of the careless to the danger of fire from this source. 



The number of fires caused by campers and fishermen is still 

 great, and it is exceedingly difficult to impress upon persons not 

 familiar with the woods, and who enter the mountains for only 

 a short time each year, the great necessity for caution, and the 

 ease with which fires may be caused. Fishermen frequent the 

 woods chiefly during the early spring when the fire hazard is 

 great. During this season the dead leaves and dry grasses easily 

 catch fire, and, on account of the absence of green leaves, the fire 

 spreads rapidly. 



Comparison of Forest Fires 1909-1912. 



YEAR. 



Number 

 of fires 



Total 

 acreage 

 burned 



State T , „..„i 

 i i lotal 



blfrned *-"■• 



Average 



area 

 burned 

 per fire 



Average 



damage 

 per fire 



Number 

 observa- 

 tion 

 stations 



1909 



1910 



1911 



1912 



307 

 277 

 506 

 383 



Acres 

 11,759 

 12,680 

 37,909 

 6,990 



Acres 



198 $23,126 

 1,570 , 17,803 

 6,794 43,664 



629 11,340 



Acres 

 88 

 46 

 73 

 18 



$75 33 

 64 00 

 86 00 

 30 00 



15 

 20 

 36 

 49 



It seems desirable that some legislation be enacted which will 

 require people who camp in the woods and use fire, to secure 

 permits in advance in order that their names and addresses and 

 places of camping may be known, and thus responsibility fixed. 

 These people are enjoying the free use of millions of dollars worth 

 of property, and some of them do not in the least appreciate the 

 consequences of forest fires. 



The activity of the rangers during the past summer has been 

 indicated by the fact that -they have extinguished a number of 

 camp fires which have been left burning. Fortunately most of 

 these fires were discovered before they had burned over any con- 

 siderable area. 



