THE NATIONAL FORESTS OF COLORADO 3 



The forests of Colorado owe their preservation from destruction by 

 fire in large measure to the faithfulness and effectiveness with which 

 local residents guard them. Every able-bodied man living in or near 

 the national forests is listed in his most useful capacity in the local 

 cooperative fire-protection organization under a definite agreement 

 with the Forest Service. There are teamsters, truckmen, laborers, 

 timekeepers, and general keymen. The keymen are authorized to hire 

 fire fighters and take initial action in the absence of the ranger. All 

 are paid for their work according to a prearranged scale. By this 

 system a minimum of forest land is left without a responsible and 

 experienced guard and fire fighter. Not only are such volunteer fire 

 fighters ready on call with men, tools, and provisions, but they go 

 promptly to fires they themselves discover. Very often they are the 

 first to arrive at a fire and, where it is small, put it out before the 

 ranger gets to it. In the case of fires which gain too much headway 

 to be put out in a short time, the forest officer, even though he may be 

 away at the beginning, takes charge upon arrival and assumes the re- 

 sponsibility of directing the campaign. 



Lightning and man are responsible for all forest fires. About 

 one-fourth are caused by lightning, the rest by man. Lightning fires 

 must always be expected and provision made to combat them. The 

 most effective way to suppress man-caused fires is to prevent them. 



Man-caused fires are in almost every case the result of carelessness 

 and are, therefore, usually inexcusable. Accordingly, every effort 

 is made by the Forest Service to educate the public to the need for 

 care with fire in the forest, and to back up this educational work by 

 strict enforcement of the law. Severe penalties are provided by 

 both Federal and State laws for carelessness with all forms of fire 

 on forest lands, and the forest ranger often finds himself in the posi- 

 tion not only of fire fighter, but also of policeman, sleuth, and prose- 

 cutor. The educational campaign is producing results, and except 

 in occasional dry years the number of fires and the amount of damage 

 are constantly decreasing. 



It is of the greatest importance that every tourist as well as every 

 local resident cooperate with the Forest Service in the detection and 

 suppression of forest fires. Whenever an unattended fire is sighted 

 it should, if possible, be promptly and completely suppressed; and 

 if it is too large to be handled, word of the fire should immediately 

 be sent to either the nearest forest officer or the sheriff. It is only 

 by such help from everyone that Colorado's excellent present record 

 in fire prevention will be maintained and improved upon. 



FOREST MANAGEMENT 



Fire protection, necessary as it is, is not the end in the practice 

 of forestry; anad with the best possible protection provided the 

 forester's work is only begun. To manage the forests so as to har- 

 vest successive crops of timber with a sustained yield is the ultimate 

 aim of forestry. This work must be based upon a thorough knowl- 

 edge of the growth habits of the various species of trees and the effect 

 upon them of a large number of factors arising from the conditions 

 in which they grow. 



A forest stand often contains, just as a human community does, 

 young, middle-aged, and mature classes. The ideal unit for forest 



