WORK OF THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE 



21 



Many of the national forests, particularly those of the West in 

 which fire danger is great and communication difficult, have been 

 equipped with portable short-wave radio sets of a special type de- 

 veloped by the Forest Service. Radio provides communication with 

 fire-fighting units after they have left the base station and are 

 away from telephone facilities. On large fires these portable sets 

 enable the fire chief to keep in close touch with progress of the fire 

 and to make the most intelligent use of man power and equipment. 



F-3 12669 



Figure 16. — Patrolman using Forest Service field radio set on lookout point. Portable 

 map board and alidade are strapped to tree. Lolo National Forest, Mont. 



Weather observations are made regularly at numerous Forest 

 Service stations. Forecasts of "forest-fire weather" are sent by the 

 Weather Bureau to forest officers so that when critical conditions are 

 indicated, special preparation can be made to meet them. 



HEALTH PROTECTION 



Precautions are taken by forest officers to protect the public health. 

 All persons using national-forest lands are expected to properly dis- 

 pose of their refuse, leave clean campgrounds, and refrain from pol- 

 luting waters. They are liable to trespass proceedings if insanitary 

 conditions result from their presence. Forest officers enforce com- 

 pliance with regulations on the part of all campers, stockmen, per- 

 mittees, and other persons traveling through or occupying national- 

 forest lands. 



FOREST INSECTS 



Aggregate losses in the forests of the United States from insect 

 damage are enormous. The principal forest insect pests are bark 



