Fire and the Forest — Theory of Light Burning. 43 



FIRE AND THE FOREST— THE THEORY OF 

 ''LIGHT BURNING'* 



By F. E. Olmsted, 

 District Forester for California, U. S. Forest Service. 



The present intense interest in the forest-fire question 

 is decidedly valuable because it is sure to result in a 

 determined effort all along the line to lessen both the fire 

 risk and the fire damage. Public discussion of the matter 

 has brought to Hght, among other things, the fact that 

 certain people still beHeve in the old theory of "burning 

 over the woods" periodically in order to get rid of the 

 litter on the ground, so that big fires which may come 

 along later on will find no fuel to feed upon. This 

 theory is usually accompanied by reference to the "old 

 Indian fires" which the redman formerly set out quite 

 methodically for purposes connected with the hunting of 

 game. We are told that the present virgin stands of 

 timber have lived on and flourished in spite of these 

 Indian fires. Hence, it is said, we should follow the 

 savage's example of "burning up the woods" to a small 

 extent in order that they may not be burnt up to a greater 

 extent bye and bye. Forest fires, it is claimed, are bound 

 to run over the mountains in spite of anything we can do. 

 Besides, the statement is made that litter will gradually 

 accumulate to such an extent that when a fire does start 

 it will be impossible to control it and we shall lose all 

 our timber. Why not choose our time in the fall or spring 

 when the smaller refuse on the ground is dry enough to 

 burn, the woods being damp enough to prevent any 

 serious damage to the older trees, and burn the whole 

 thing lightly? 



This theory of "light burning" is especially prevalent 

 in California and has cropped out to a very noticeable 

 extent since the recent destructive fires in Idaho and 

 Montana. 



