24 MISC. PUBLICATION 162, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
burn over the surface, are very harmful to the forest. By scorching 
the bases of the big trees, they open wounds through which wood rot 
enters, which depreciates the value of the lumber and increases the 
likelihood of the trees being thrown by the wind. Surface fires, 
too, kill the young trees that would grow up to perpetuate the 
forest; they burn the leaves and other litter on the forest floor and 
destroy the fertility of the soil. They burn the coverts and nests of 
game animals and birds and sometimes make the streams unin- 
habitable for fish. If repeated often enough, such fires gradually 
turn the green forests into a waste without life—ugly, desolate, and 
unprofitable for any purpose (fig. 15). 
In general, forest fires, whether large or small, mean loss not only 
to the owner of the land but in some measure to everyone. They mean 
SRS 
F—43808 
FIGURE 15.—Result of fire and hurricane. Coeur d’Alene National Forest, Idaho. 
that so much more of our forest land will not be working for us; 
that there will be fewer trees to supply the wood necessary to build 
our houses, run our railroads, and make our furniture, and number- 
less other things that give us comfort; that watershed protection has 
been impaired; and that just so many more acres of forest play- 
grounds have been taken from us. Is it not therefore the duty of 
every good citizen to be careful of fire when in the woods? 
Six simple rules to prevent fires in the woods are: 
1. Marcurs.—Be sure your match is out. Break it in two before 
you throw it away. 
9. Toracco.—Be sure that pipe ashes and cigar or cigarette stubs 
are dead before throwing them away. Never throw them into brush, 
leaves, or needles. 
