160 Third Annual Report of the 



work an axe is indispensable. In fact, there are many uses for 

 an axe and crosscut saw in fighting fire. When the fire has been 

 surrounded it is advisable to go into the burned area and fell all 

 burning trees which threaten to throw sparks across the fire line 

 and start new fires. 



Where the ground is open enough, and where horses and plows 

 are available, a surface fire may oftentimes be stopped by a plowed 

 furrow. An instance is on record in this State where an excel- 

 lent fire line was cleared through dense timber and where the duff 

 was very thick, by the use of dynamite. Seven dollars worth of 

 dynamite did the work of forty men and did it much quicker than 

 the men could have done it. 



Water 



Forest fires often occur in localities far from any considerable 

 water supply; but whenever it can be obtained, water is of great 

 assistance in fire fighting. No fire-fighting equipment is complete 

 without a liberal supply of pails for carrying water. The best 

 kind of pails for this work are made of canvas with rings at the 

 bottom and top to keep them in shape. These pails are collapsible 

 and are lighter and more portable than the ordinary metal or fibre 

 pails. In localities accessible by wagon-roads, water may be 

 hauled in barrels and distributed to the fire fighters. 



The most effective way of applying water is by means of a force 

 pump. Such a pump is obtainable at a moderate price and under 

 certain circumstances is a valuable addition to the equipment. 



One of the principal uses of water is to extinguish the last 

 vestige of fire which may remain in the duff or in stumps or old 

 logs after the fire has been gotten under control. These places 

 must be thoroughly saturated in order that the first breath of wind 

 may not fan them into flame and send a shower of sparks across 

 the fire line. 



Chemical Extinguishers 



Chemical fire extinguishers have proved their value for use in 

 farming sections where the forest occurs largely in the form 

 of comparatively small, isolated woodlots, and where there are 

 numerous roads over which a wagon load of extinguishers may be 

 hauled. Most of the extinguishers now on the market are heavy, 



