-3- 



acres were 'burned over and it cost over $3,000,000 to put out the fires 

 on our National forests alone. 



Of course, some years ara worse fire years than others; drought 

 and other weather conditions are largely responsible for that. But, 

 according to Mr. Randal, the danger from man caused fires is on the in- 

 crease rather than the decrease. 



The increase in automobile tourists and the multiplication of 

 campers has added tremendously to the menace of fire, ajid there is also 

 the danger of sparks from railroad trains and sawmill operations. Every 

 big fire was a little fire once. Many cases of forest damage have been 

 traced to smouldering cigarette butts or matches carelessly tossed 

 aside or to camp-fires left burning. 



Airplanes now threaten to further increase the danger, as ex- 

 periments have shown that lighted cigars and cigarettes tossed from 

 airplanes often strike the grcxund still glowing. The Fire Demon has 

 taken wings, but he hasn't flown away. He has merely increased the 

 possibilities for damage. A cigarette dropped from an airplane in a 

 lonely s~ot might well cause a fire which v;ould sweep away millions of 

 dollars worth of timber before it could be brought under control. Re- 

 member, every big fire, every historic holocaust, was a little fire once. 



When the Fire Demon sweeps through the tree tops or creeps like 

 a serpent through the litter on the ground, it may seem a terrible thing. 

 But please remember that individual, human carelessness is responsible 

 for a large percentage of our forests fires. Do you have a little Fire 

 Demon under your hat? Does he ride in your car? Does he sit at your 

 carap-f ire? 



AimOUlTCEIIE^IT ; Our Wilds Man has just called our attention to 

 the need for care to guard against fire while v;e are in the woods. 



The Spring is one of our important fire seasons, and this Station 



is glad to cooperate with the United States Department of Agriculture 

 in a^ain calling attention to this menace. 



