16 



The Forests op Maryland. 



Since, however, 90 per cent of the forest fires are the result of care- 

 lessness, the sitiiation will improve as rapidly as people are educated 

 to the nature and extent of damage caused by forest fires. 



The actual State protective organization consists of 148 Forest 

 Wardens (1916) working under the direction of the State Forester. 

 Of these Wardens, 17 are Patrolmen, and 3 are Watchmen at Fire 

 Lookout Stations. The Forest Wardens receive no salarj^, but are paid 

 for services rendered. They are all men who are interested in fire pro- 

 tection, and who in tliis way are giving the State a most valuable serv- 

 ice in a conscientious, disinterested way, and with small compensation. 

 The effectiveness of their work is attested by the number of fires at- 

 tended and extinguished and the decreasing areas burned during the 

 past two years. The system of fire protection now in opei'ation in 

 Maryland is as effective as it is possible to make it without increased 

 appropriations. 



Forest Patrolmen are Forest Wardens who are detailed for patrol 

 work during the seasons of greatest fire danger, which occur in the 

 spring and fall. On days Avhen the fire danger is greatest these men, 

 usually mounted, are constantly on patrol duty, covering all parts of 

 their districts and paying particular attention to those sections where 

 fires are most likely to occur. On patrol they are not only constantly 

 on the alert for fires, but also caution those who are likely to be care- 

 less, and in other ways secure the* co-operation of people in their dis- 

 tricts in suppressing the fire danger. 



There are two kinds of Lool'ont Stations in use, one where the 

 Forest Warden is constantly on duty, on dry days, during the fire sea- 

 son ; and the other where observations are made by a Warden from 

 some lookout point three times during the day — morning, noon, and 

 evening. Of them, one of the former, and two of the latter, are at 

 present in use. Each Lookout Station is connected by telephone with 

 the surrounding territory, so that when a fire is discovered its location 

 is determined as definitely as possible and immediately reported to the 

 Warden nearest the fire, Avho then goes to it at once, employing assist- 

 ants where needed to bring it under control. In sections where there 

 is good telephone connection, these Lookout Stations have been of in- 

 estimable service in locating fires, limiting tlie cost of extinguishing 

 them, and reducing tlie amount of damage done. 



Under Section 2 of the Weeks Law (Act of March 1, 1911), there 

 is available for the different States which maintain forest fire organi- 

 zations, and are expending money in fire protection, certain allotments 

 for the payment of Forest Patrolmen and Lookout Watchmen, on 

 condition that the State will expend at least an equal amount in fire 

 protection. IMaryland and the F. S. Forest Service have in tlii.s way 



