1608 
these fires are started lawfully, but get out of 
hand because of. carelessness or ignorance or 
' willingness'to ’’take - a Chan6e ,r ), v and 
.■•nh i’T f5 <•) 
'(b) bv Incendiaries.. 
C. Man-power to fight forest fires (estimates based on reliable 
' ■ •'./ no ,. " • ;.~;vo Tr * rrx 7 '. ~To basic data) ■ ■ ( c y . ... • V u""' ,. 
.. ’ 1* • ' n:' ; - - v,r r. ' r,; ; e H-, w: n. ;: - ; r 
For all' fires in one '(the’average) year 
. 970,000 man-days 
For all fires in the whole five-year period 
1,403,000 man-days 
2« Forest fires sabotage the war effort 
A* Timber , a critical war material according to W.P.B.’s Donald 
Nelson,' is damaged and destroyed by forest fires. 
B. Production, of lumber for 1942, estimated to be 6 billion feet, 
board measure, below requirements for that year, is slowed down every 
time woods and mill crews - already affected in the Pacific Northwest 
by a partial freeze order issued by the’War Manpower Commission - 
must fight fires. 
Gy Forest fires- are real and potential threats (l) to plants, equip¬ 
ment, etc., of war industries, cantonments, etc., many of which are 
located in and near forest, woodland, and brush-covered areas; (2) to 
the efficiency of defensive air and sea patrols, training of air 
pilots, etc.; (3) to the diversion of man-power from war industries, 
training camps, and farms to the fighting of forest and farm woodland 
fires. 
D. In a January 1942 budget messago the President said 
"It is part of our war effort ... to ... maintain 
fire protection in our forests." 
E. Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt , Headquarters, Western Defense Command, 
has listed 12 reasons why every patriotic citizen should look on 
helping to prevent forest fires as unessential war-time duty. Among 
them: ’ 
Smoke-palls from' forest fires along coastal areas limit 
visibility for defensive air and sea patrols and invite 
off-shore operations by the enemy. 
2 - 
