Conservation Commission 157 



not seem to bear out this claim. The fact remains, moreover, 

 that where tops have been lopped, the fire risk is rapidly decreas- 

 ing after the first two or three years, while unlopped tops, propped 

 off the ground on their lower branches, usually remain dry and 

 inflammable for fifteen years or more. 



In this connection we have discussed only the lopping of the 

 tops of coniferous or " softwood " trees. As a rule the limbs and 

 branches of the hardwoods decay much more rapidly than do those 

 of the coniferous species, but in spite of this fact, the rapid in- 

 crease in hardwood lumbering which has taken place within the 

 past few years, makes the solution of the problem of hardwood 

 slash disposal imperative. In operations where the tops are fully 

 utilized for acid wood, there is very little material left on the 

 ground. The fire hazard may be greatly reduced by the introduc- 

 tion, in connection with a hardwood logging operation, of a chem- 

 ical or acid plant, which will use only large defective trees and 

 the otherwise unmerchantable portions of trees felled for lumber. 



FIRE FIGHTING 



So far in these pages no mention has been made of the work of 

 fire fighting. We have considered the various classes and kinds of 

 forest fires, the damage which they do, the causes from which they 

 originate, and the preventive measures to which we may resort to 

 eliminate those causes so far as possible. A system of patrol with 

 its aids has been outlined. Methods for the prompt detection of 

 fires and the facilities necessary to provide for the securing of fire 

 fighters have been considered. We come now to the matter of the 

 actual fighting of the fire after it has been discovered. 



Organization of the Fire Fighting Crew 

 Each member of the patrol force should be so familiar with his 

 territory that when he learns of a fire in a certain locality, he can 

 tell at once where to get men and tools to fight the fire, and how 

 to get them to the point of attack in the shortest time. 



If the fire is a small one, the ranger himself will be able to ex- 

 tinguish it. If, however, the indications are that it covers a con- 

 siderable area, he will do well to make provision for a numl er of 

 fire fighters. It is better to get to a fire with too many men than 



