34 MISC. PUBLICATION 10 9, IT. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



two or three days so that protection forces may be prepared for 

 emergency fire conditions of low humidity and high winds. 



The Forest Service, in cooperation with the State division of 

 forestry and the Weather Bureau, has a special truck, equipped with 

 meteorological and radio instruments, which can be taken to large 

 fires and kept in touch with the central Weather Bureau forecasting 

 office at San Francisco. By checking these regional forecasts with 

 local weather conditions, the Weather Bureau officer in charge of 

 the truck is able to accurately forecast the kind of weather that 

 may be expected during the progress of the fire. 



Along mechanical lines the Forest Service has adapted tractors, 

 graders, and rippers to fire-line and firebreak construction. Spe- 

 cially built trucks similar to a municipal fire truck, carrying fire- 

 fighting equipment and supplies, are stationed on many of the 

 national forests. Tank trucks having a gasoline power pump, hose, 

 and a large water tank are used to put out fires starting within a 

 short distance of a road or highway. Portable gasoline pumps and 

 hose to be used whenever water is available are a regular part of 

 the fire-fighting equipment on every national forest. Portable power 

 tool grinders for sharpening cutting tools are being introduced, and 

 experiments are being carried on to determine the best type of 

 back pumps, hand tools, and other equipment for the varying con- 

 ditions met with in fighting fires in the State. 



14. Of what does the fire-fighting organization of a national forest 

 consist? 



It consists of district rangers and fire chiefs, fire lookout men, 

 guards, dispatchers, telephone operators, assisted in cases of 

 emergency by settlers and local organizations in towns and villages. 



The fire chief is a member of the forest supervisor's staff who is 

 responsible for the efficient conduct of the fire prevention and sup- 

 pression organization and activities on a national forest. 



The district ranger is the manager on the ground of all fire pre- 

 vention and suppression activities in his district. He goes to and 

 takes charge of all fires in his district and is responsible for their 

 proper handling. He also supervises the work of all guards, look- 

 out men, and other employees under him in the district. 



Fire lookouts are classed as primary or secondary. Primary look- 

 out men are located on peaks which command a view of large 

 stretches of country. They live in the lookout houses on the peaks, 

 and are on duty practically all the time. 



Secondary lookout men keep watch over small areas which are 

 not plainly visible to the primary lookouts, such as river canyons 

 or blind areas hidden from the primary peaks by intervening hills. 

 Such lookout officers are often required to go to fires within their 

 territories and must be equipped with a horse, or an auto, or both. 



Guards or forest firemen are located with regard to roads and 

 trails so as to enable them to reach all parts of their territory as 

 quickly as possible. Where there is danger of fires starting along a 

 road or trail by reason of heavy travel or other causes, guards may 

 have a definite patrol route to cover, or they may be stationed at 



