ing, to prevent falling into it by acci- 
dent, and this precautionary measure 
is completed. Should the emergency 
arise, or should you have to leave camp 
for a week or so, throw your duffle 
into this pit, shove some loose dirt on 
top of it and then, should your entire 
camp be destroyed by fire, you will find 
your provisions have not been in the 
least harmed. 
HESE three measures are intended, 
of course, as a precaution against 
fires that originate elsewhere and have 
gained such momentum that they 
cannot be stopped. No “neck of the 
woods” can be considered safe from 
such unforeseen conflagrations which 
are to be looked for 
everywhere during 
the months of dry 
weather. 
Fires will often ap- 
pear in country 
which is_ absolutely 
uninhabited. Their 
origin is most mys- 
terious, and we are 
often at a loss to ex- 
plain them. In an- 
swer to such queries, 
Dame Nature herself f 
; I 
suggests that she UU 
might have been 
cuilty. Lightning, we 
know, has often been 
known to appear in 
perfectly clear 
weather, especially in 
the mountainous 
country, and to such 
premature appear- 
ance of this electrical 
phenomenon we may 
rightly lay the blame 
for many fires. Then, 
too, though very rare- 
ly, meteors have been 
known to cause fires 
by their sudden drop 
from the heavens into 
thickly wooded areas. Birch trees, 
however, are probably the most fre- 
quent offenders of all natural “fire- 
bugs.” 
HE bark of both the silver and the 
white birch is highly inflammable, 
and when two trees cross each other, 
so as to form a point of friction when 
a heavy wind blows, there is grave 
danger of flames breaking out which 
will be fanned by the strong breeze. 
The fringe of bark, curls, etc., are 
quickly ignited and in no time the 
fire will spread to other trees close by. 
Woodsmen often pause, while on the 
trail, to cut down one of two such 
trees that cross. Merely another pre- 
cautionary measure, but well worth 
Page 401 
I 
the effort. Rain drops have been said 
to act in the capacity of a burning 
glass, by serving as a medium of con- 
centrating the sun’s rays on a dry 
leaf. While I have never seen this 
occur, I have heard of it many times. 
The premature evaporation of the 
rain drops seems to be the only nega- 
tive argument. 
Rok the most part, however, forest 
fires are the direct result of care- 
lessness on the part of campers. Signs 
in the woods instruct the reader to 
“PUT YOUR FIRE OUT BEFORE 
BREAKING CAMP!” but it is an 
actual fact that there are many 
campers who do not know how to put 
un wed 
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ENYTULTTMET EL INOSBOSN DNDN DONS 
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Path of Fire N. byE. 

Map showing course of bad fire 
their fire out. In the first place, they 
most often build it right on the 
ground, not considering that the ages 
have laid a heavy layer of leaves 
which are slowly but surely turning 
to peat. A hot fire burns itself down 
into this and a few buckets of water 
hastily thrown on it to put it out only 
serve to kill the flames. The hot 
embers, far below the ashes, are left 
unnoticed. ‘“It’ll die out,” and that 
is all. Yes, but will it? Nine times 
out of ten it does, but the tenth time, 
when it smoulders and smoulders for 
days, finally breaking out into a 
ground fire, then taking to brush and 
finally the trees, is one time too 
many! 
When it comes time to move camp, 
dig up the ground around the fire 
_ and throw the earth over the wet sur- 
face cinders after you have used 
water. Stir up all the cinders, turn- 
ing up every live coal you can find, 
and mix them all with dirt. The little 
trench you have dug around the fire 
will prevent any spread, even if there 
is by chance an afterglow. 
THE problems of dealing with a 
forest fire are many and for the 
most part dependent upon local topo- 
graphical features. If a fire is rag- 
ing up the west slope of a hill it is 
well to start a back fire as near to the 
top of the hill from the east slope as 
you dare go. At the same time fell 
all small firs, ete., 
away from your back 
fire. If this work is 
quickly and intelli- 
gently done the body 
of the fire will burn 
itself out when it 
meets the approach- 
ing flames of the back 
fire. Do not attempt 
back-firing unless the 
wind is favorable, else 
you may only serve 
to add to the original 
blaze by increasing 
its proportions. Fire 
generally travels in 
the smaller fir trees, 
spruce, balsam, pine, 
cedar and hemlock, 
only taking to what 
large trees grow up 
between the _ small 
ones.. 
H 
\Previously 
\- Burned 
\ 
IGHT - FITTING 
aviator’s goggles 
are a good thing to 
have with you, for 
even though they may 
be warm about the 
eyes the protection 
they afford from the 
stinging gases is worth the discom- 
fort. 
Before attempting to fight a fire en- 
deavor to thoroughly saturate your 
clothing with water. This will increase 
your heat resistance and also prove a 
great protection from sparks. Also try 
to get a towel, soaking wet, to wrap 
around your face and head. If possible, 
wear gloves and shoes with heavy soles. 
One experience in dealing with a forest 
fire will be sufficient to convince even 
the most pessimistic of the wisdom of 
such precautionary measures. 
O not attempt to fight fire if you 
have a weak constitution or weak 
lungs, for the heat and smoke will soon 
(Continued on page 442) 
