18 BULLETIN 
During periods of extreme fire hazard, prohibition of smoking in 
the timber may be warranted. Suspension of operations may be 
desirable but is not likely to be necessary except in the rare cases 
where railroad logging may be employed. 
All logging camps and sawmills on forest lands, or so located as 
to endanger them, should be provided with satisfactory fire-suppres- 
sion tools and equipment, and suitable clearings should be made to 
prevent the spread of fire to adjacent timber. On the larger opera- 
tions, tool caches should be located at strategic points throughout 
the woods. Sawmills should always be provided with adequate spark 
arresters and with safe refuse burners. At mills large enough to 
justify such measures, power pumps and night watchmen should 
also be provided. In small operations, sawdust need not be burned 
but should be piled separately from other refuse. 
A check should be kept to see that roof jacks are properly in- 
stalled in camp buildings and that ceilings and partitions are prop- 
erly protected from stovepipes. Stoves should be placed at a safe 
distance from walls and be set high enough to allow air spaces 
beneath them. 
In addition, a fire plan should be in effect providing for a code 
of emergency signals from the mill, the assignment of all employees 
to specific jobs in case of fire, and the listing of available equipment, 
supplies, and outside help. Such a plan may vary in form, accord- 
ing to the size of the operation and fire hazard, from a mere verbal 
understanding among the men employed to a written plan. 
Individual timbered units in private and State ownership are 
usually not sufficiently extensive or consolidated at this time to war- 
rant the building up of independent fire protective organizations. 
Accordingly, it is suggested that protection of such lands be attained 
through yearly assessments for a common fund equal to the cost of 
protection. Such a fund might be expended by the United States 
Forest Service, by the State, or by private fire-protection associa- 
tions, depending upon which agency has a satisfactory organization 
responsible for fire protection in the locality or is otherwise the 
logical agency to take the leadership. 
Residents on or adjacent to their timberland who, by reason of their 
location, can give adequate protection should be exempt from such 
assessments. Cooperation by local residents has been found to be a 
very important factor in fire protection. In working out any fire- 
protection plans, particular attention should be given to arrange- 
ments for cooperation in fire prevention and suppression between 
timber operators and their employees, graziers, and other forest 
users, and in fact all local residents. 
SLASH DISPOSAL 
Since earliest times, slash resulting from timber operations on pri- 
vate and State lands has generally been left where it fell, and at first, 
with public sentiment apathetic and no organization to take the lead 
in fire prevention or suppression, this resulted in many extensive 
burns and much serious damage. After the national forests came 
into being, most privately owned timber became intermingled with or 
adjacent to lands for which a systematic plan of fire protection was 
