32 IR. 211, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
PROTEGTION OF THE NATIONAL 
FORESTS 
FIRE DANGER 
Fire is an ever-present danger on the national for- 
ests. The great size of the forests compared with 
the size of the patrolling force, the difficulty of reach- 
F-35660A 
FIGURE 17.—In his lofty tower, the lookout keeps watch 
for the danger signal—smoke. A telephone connects him 
with the nearest ranger station. 
ing remote areas across miles of wilderness, the dry 
air and light rainfall in parts of the West, the previ- 
lence of lightning in the mountains, and the constant 
use of fire in the daily life of the people and in the 
industries all combine to make the hazard excep- 
tional. (Fig. 16.) 
Among the chief causes of fire are lightning, smok- 
ers, incendiarism, campers, railroads, brush burning, 
and lumbering operations. 
