Report of the Forest Commission. 225 



(d) To attend on the ground when notified by any person proposing 

 to fire brush or any combustible matter on or near forest land, and to 

 supervise or, if necessary, to postpone such firing in order to prevent 

 forest fires. 



(e) To arrest, without warrant, every person found violating any 

 provision of the law relating to forest fires, and to forthwith take the 

 offender before a magistrate and make complaint against such person. 



(f) To inquire into the cause of every forest fire within their sev- 

 eral districts, and if any such fire be traceable to the negligence or 

 willfulness of any person, company, society or corporation, to make 

 complaint before a magistrate against such person, company, society 

 or corporation. 



(g) To post and keep posted warning placards, prepared by the For- 

 estry Commission, in localities where fires are likely to occur, and to 

 carry into effect such rules and regulations as may be prescribed, with 

 the approval of the Governor of the commonwealth by the said For- 

 estry Commission conformably to the provisions and in furtherance of 

 the object of this act. 



(h) To open and to keep open fire lanes not less than two rods wide, 

 and where authorized by the Forestry Commission, as barriers against 

 fire, provided that the said lanes need not be graded as public high- 

 ways, nor shall they be open in any case without the previous consent 

 in writing of the land owners granting free 'right of way and releasing 

 all claim for compensation therefor. 



(i) To make two reports annually in duplicate, at dates to be fixed by 

 the Forestry Commission, giving the statistics of forest fires, including 

 the actual cost of suppressing them and other items on the forms pre- 

 scribed and furnished by the said commission, one of the said dupli- 

 cates to be sent to the district attorney of the proper county and the 

 other to the Forestry Commission at Harrisburg. 



(j) To wear exposed to view while on duty as firewardens a dis- 

 tinctive badge, which shall be furnished by the forestry commission 

 and shall be delivered by the respective firewardens to their successors 

 in office. ■ 



§ 3. It shall be the duty of the justice of peace residing nearest the 

 place of the origin of the forest fire to make prompt and strict inquiry 

 into the origin of such fire, and whenever such fire is found to have 

 been started willfully or negligently by any person, company, society 

 or corporation, in violation of the law, to issue a warrant for the appre- 

 hension of the offender or offenders, and after a hearing, if sufficient 

 cause be shown, bind him or them over to appear at the next court of 

 29 



