widespread conflagrations in a comparatively short 
time, and are thus able to save areas of valuable 
timber. Systems of forest protection in Europe 
have mastered the fire danger to a degree that we 
Canadians accustomed to wholesale burnings have 
hardly dreamed of. Roads are built through the 
timber for the double purpose of breaking the pro¬ 
gress of the flames and transporting fire fighters to 
the scene of trouble. Telephone lines connect the 
rangers with one another and with the means of 
emergency aid. The highest hills are surmounted 
by lookout towers where watchers, constantly on 
duty, detect the beginnings of fires on the slopes and 
immediately ’phone the news to other rangers who 
collect their men and attack the blaze. In Canada 
we have made a beginning at these scientific meth¬ 
ods, but only a beginning. 
Like Military Engineers. 
In the very brief space allowed by this booklet 
it is not possible to describe the various plans of 
overcoming forest fires, once they are seriously 
under way. It may be laid down as a proven fact, 
however, that a burning forest section can usually 
be held in check by a strong and determined body of 
rangers and helpers. The equipment of the fire 
fighters consists ordinarily of a hand axe for felling 
trees, folding canvas bucket for conveying water 
from any nearby lake or river, a heavy jute bag for 
beating out sparks, a shovel for scattering earth 
■over the burning “duff” as well as for digging 
trenches on the edge or directly in the path of the 
advancing flames. Large parties of fire fighters are 
organized like a body of military engineers, each 
man attending to a specified duty and obeying the 
•orders of those in charge. It is exceedingly hard 
27 
