146 Third Annual Report of the 



PROTECTIVE AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES 



The work of fighting fires is of the utmost importance; but if 

 we can keep those fires from starting in the first place, we have 

 accomplished much more, in that we have not only saved the ex- 

 pense of fire fighting, but have also prevented the damage which 

 would have been done by the fire. Bearing in mind the possible 

 causes of forest fires in a given region, we must devise a scheme of 

 protection consistent with the money available for expenditure for 

 such a purpose, and aiming especially to reduce the danger from 

 fires arising from the known causes. It is not sufficient to provide 

 a patrol force to cover the area under protection. A system must 

 be worked out in minute detail to cover all points ; it may be based 

 on a patrol force, but at the same time it is important to take ac- 

 count of the numerous aids which may be employed to increase 

 the efficiency of the patrol, such as mountain observation stations 

 or lookouts, an auxiliary fire fighting force, telephone lines, emer 

 gency tool-kits, fire lines, and roads and trails through the forests. 



There are various measures which may be taken to eliminate the 

 causes of fires, namely, the posting of fire notices containing ex- 

 cerpts from the fire laws of the State and otherwise warning all 

 users of the forest to be careful in the use of fire ; the restriction of 

 brush burning and fires to clear land ; the proper disposal of slash 

 left after lumbering operations ; the equipment of railroad locomo- 

 tives with suitable devices to prevent the escape of sparks and 

 coals, and the clearing of railroad rights of way of all inflammable 

 material. Each one of these measures will be taken up separately 

 in the following pages. 



Patrol 



The most obvious system of protection of forest lands from fire 

 is by means of a patrol. This is at once a simple and effective 

 method. The first step taken by the IT. S. Forest Service, when the 

 National Forests were created, was the establishment of a fire 

 patrol. All fire protection must be based upon this idea. It may 

 be developed further by the introduction of mountain observation 

 stations and telephone lines to facilitate prompt detection of fires. 

 Roads and trails also are of incalculable value in increasing the 

 efficiency of the patrol and making possible the rapid mobilization 



