i86 



Sierra Club Bulletin 



on hand at the start, and if these men had stuck to the fire until it be- 

 came cold, there would have been no loss whatsoever. Even at a 

 later stage, after the fire had gained considerable headway, it could 

 have been subdued without great loss of money and labor if it had not 

 been for the lack of recognized authority, organization and equipment. 



The best time to fight a brush fire is before it starts. This is fur- 

 ther illustrated, moreover, by the great difficulty the fire fighters had 

 in getting to the fire and in fighting it promptly when they did get 

 to it. The trails of the region were few and far between and in poor 

 condition. To reach the fire, therefore, it was often necessary to cut 

 one's way up and down hill through the chaparral, and this, needless 

 to say, is about the hardest work in the world and exceedingly slow 

 work. To check a brush fire it is usually necessary to cut a line 

 around it, using this line as a base from which to smother the flames; 

 and it sometimes becomes necessary to backfire, in which case a cleared 

 and cleaned strip which completely "corners" the fire is absolutely 

 essential. There were no such strips or fire trails ready made and their 

 construction involved a priceless loss of time and energy. 



Efficient protection against fire in forest or brush calls for a ready- 

 made organization, a directing head, quick communication by telephone 

 and trail, lines already cleared from which to fight, and organized forces 

 of trained fire fighters under definite leadership. 



The Tamalpais Fire Association exists to give systematic protection 

 against fire to some 40,000 acres of mountain land in the Tamalpais 

 region. That much is planned for at the start. Later on, it is prob- 

 able that the system will be extended to all the forest and brush lands 

 of Marin County. Moreover, when the results of this practical example 

 are visible on the ground, it is not unlikely that similar associations 

 will be formed in other parts of California, wherever conditions are 

 much the same. 



Briefly stated, the Association is establishing a paid organization de- 

 voted to fire prevention, including a general manager (the forester), 

 patrolmen, lookouts, and fire-fighting forces. It is building fire trails, so 

 planned as to make the whole region easily and quickly accessible, and 

 to afford suitable lines from which to fight fire. It is building ex- 

 tensions to existing telephone lines for the purpose of obtaining quick 

 information about the start and location of fires. It is storing sup- 

 plies of fire-fighting tools at convenient points all through the district 

 so that the necessary implements may be right on the spot when fire 

 occurs. Finally, it is organizing and training the best available fire- 

 fighting forces of the locality. 



The Forester, as the executive officer, has a free hand in the or- 

 ganization and administration of the Association's work. In case of 

 fire his authority is supreme. Under him, during the danger season, 

 are the patrolmen who will be stationed at strategic points on or near 

 the mountain from which they may quickly discover fire when it starts 

 and from which they may quickly get to the fire after it is discovered 



