better understanding of 

 attitudes of different groups 

 toward fire and possible 

 ways to modify the behavior 

 of fire setters. Psychological 

 studies provided information 

 on the many and varied 

 reasons why rural residents 

 practice woods burning 

 (Shea 1940, Dunkelberger 

 and Altobellis 1975). Re- 

 searchers at universities in 

 Louisiana and Mississippi, 

 including A.W Baird, A.L 

 Bertrand, B.E. Griessman, 

 T. Hansborough, and H.F. 

 Kaufman, together with 

 W.L Doolittle and others in 

 the Forest Service, conduct- 

 ed a series of studies of 

 fire-prevention factors and 

 techniques (e.g., Bertrand 

 and Baird 1975). Recom- 

 mendations flowing from 

 these studies have stressed, 

 for example, the importance 

 of personal contact in 

 communicating fire- 

 prevention messages (e.g., 

 Doolittle and Welch 1974). 



It seems clear that the 

 development and applica- 

 tion of knowledge regarding 

 fire impacts, control, preven- 

 tion, and prescribed uses 

 have had major effects on 

 the forest situation in the 

 South. Fire agencies have 

 been able to reduce acreage 

 burned and damages from 

 wildfire while saving on 

 fire-control costs. Losses of 

 timber and other resources 

 have been greatly reduced, 

 with consequent increases 

 in timber growth and en- 

 couragement of investments 

 in timber growing. Stand 

 composition in southern 

 forests has been widely 

 modified through prescribed 

 burning to favor pine over 

 unwanted hardwoods. And 

 values of wildlife, livestock 

 production, and recreation 

 undoubtedly have also 

 been enhanced through 

 improved fire management. 



15 



