T

HE disastrous forest fires which yearly devastate thousands of acres of tree and brush lands throughout the West, entailing losses running into the millions of dollars, has caused Uncle Sam to lie awake nights in an endeavor to devise means to eliminate this enormous waste of our natural resources. He is succeeding, too, for each year finds the areas burned over of smaller extent, and the financial loss greatly reduced.

Forest fires affect not only the lumbermen or timber owners, but they affect almost every industry in the vicin

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ity in which they occur. In many instances a fire which devastated the timbered mountain slopes has resulted in such a shortage of the water supply of adjacent valleys as to bring irreparable loss to the settlers below. Nature intends that the snows rains that fall so copiously during the winter months shall be saved and stored by the forest and brush covering on the mountain sides, and when this is burned away, the water runs off rapidly instead of slowly percolating through the litter of leaves and debris produced by the vegetable growth.

The government years ago recognized the urgent need for protecting the mountain slopes from fire, and with this end in view withdrew practically all important watersheds and included them within the National Forests. The forest rangers, whose duty it is to guard the mountains against fire, are chosen for their fitness for the work required of them.

Each ranger has a certain area under his jurisdiction, which is called his "district," and within that province he is held responsible for existing conditions. The extent of that district is determined by the character of the country, its roughness, accessibility and population.

On the California forests the ranger's year is divided into two periods: one, the dry season, extending from the time the rains cease until they begin again, during which period his entire time is devoted to patrol work and the wet, or winter season, when his efforts are priImarily devoted to trail and firebreak construction. Of

course, on forests where conditions are different, the duties of the rangers vary according to the local requirements, some rangers giving all of their time to grazing matters, and others to timber sale work.

As a general rule, most of the rangers live back in the mountains, or if they have what is called a "front district," they make their headquarters at the mouth of some canyon or upon some elevated point where they can command a good view of the surrounding country. It is the policy of the government, wherever the conditions will permit, to give each ranger a government cabin to live in, and if

Forest officers climbing to Lookout Point to determine the location of a fire. Coconino National Forest, Ariz.

possible, a small patch of land for a garden and pasture for his horse.

During the dry season the great danger from fires necessitates the rangers devoting their entire time to patrol work. Over the rough, chaparral or timber covered mountains, trails are laid out, winding through the canyons and over mountain ridges, and along these trails the ranger patrols, always on the lookout for fires. While thus patrolling, the ranger keeps in touch with affairs around him, and is

always alert to discover any violations of the law. In addition to his authority as a forest ranger, which enables him to make arrests for violations of Federal laws, he holds an appointment from the State as a Fire Warden which authorizes him to make arrests for violations of the State fire laws, and also to regulate the use of fire by settlers in clearing their lands or burning refuse of any kind. Before doing this burning, the settler must secure a permit from a Fire Warden, and the warden may require whatever precautions he deems necessary, such as clearing a space around the fire, piling the brush, etc. In this way he is also acquainted with the time of burning, and can be present if he desires. Many of the rangers also hold appointments as State Fish and Game Wardens, which give them the right to make arrests for violation of the State game laws.

To make the mountains accessible, a network of trails is laid out, leading up all prominent canyons and follow

ing important ridges, so that it is possible to rush a force of fire fighters to the most remote part of the forest in the shortest possible time. Without these trails valuable time and effort would have to be spent by the men in forcing their way through the heavy undergrowth, and by the time the fire was reached they would probably be exhausted by their exertions.

In order to have easily available the heavy tools needed in fighting fires, large chests have been constructed at suitable points in the mountains, within which are stored a full equipment of tools, canteens, food and everything needed to supply a crew of men hastily summoned to some remote part of the mountains. A uniform lock is placed on each chest, and every ranger and the settlers living near the tool chests are furnished with keys.

To keep the entire force within touch of one another, each ranger is connected by telephone with his colleagues. and with the Supervisor's office, and where there are no commer

cial lines available for this purpose, the Forest Service installs its own lines. Portable instruments are furnished which may be attached to the wires at any point without requiring the ranger to seek the nearest 'phone, so that in case of fire he can instantly call for assistance at any point on the line. The Forest Service also has made especially for it a very fine insulated wire. Each of the rangers carry a spool of this wire, and by connecting one end to a telephone line, he can penetrate the wildest woods and yet remain in communication with the outside world by reason of his portable telephone.

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In many portions of the mountains, the topography is such that should a fire start at the foot of some slope, or at the mouth of some canyon, flames would sweep upward, being forced onward by the draught which they create, causing great destruction before the fire could be controlled. At such points, extensive firebreaks are built, which offer an effective check to the flames and afford a vantage point from which to carry on the fight. These firebreaks are usualy 50 to 75 feet wide, and are made by cutting and grubbing out all brush and vegetation, leaving the ground barren and incapable of supporting a fire. When the onrushing flames reach this barren strip, they must necessarily burn themselves out for want of additional fuel. Once constructed, these brakes are kept entirely clean of all forms. of vegetation.

On many of the National Forests, watch towers are erected on the higher peaks, and a ranger is constantly stationed there. He is furnished with powerful glasses, and various scientific instruments which enable him to ascertain accurately the location and distance of any fires he may discover. By telephoning to the ranger in the vicinity of the fire, much valuable time is therefore saved.

When a fire is discovered, the nearest ranger presses into service as many men as are available, and starts

for the scene of the conflagration. Before going, however, he notifies the Forest Supervisor and the neighboring rangers. The men equip themselves with tools at the nearest tool chest, and under the ranger's direction the fight is commenced. If the fire threatens to be a large one, messengers are sent out to secure more help and additional rangers are notified.

There are several methods of fighting brush fires, each depending largely upon the conditions met with. Sometimes wet sacks or blankets are used to smother grass fires, but this method is not always practicable, owing to the scarcity of water or the height of the brush. Again, loose earth is scattered over the fire, while in other cases, "back firing" is resorted to. This consists of starting another fire at such a point that it will burn in the direction of the approaching fire and thus. consume the inflammable material in its wake. This method, while usually effective, is extremely dangerous, because unless sufficient help is available, it might get beyond control and escape in all directions, thus adding to the fire zone.

Experience has taught that where a cleared space is made in the front of a forest fire the fight can be waged more successfully, and hence where fires occur on chaparral covered hills, an effort is usually made to clear an open space through the brush by cutting and grubbing away the vegetation. When the flames reach this cleared space they are denied further fuel and are easily extinguished.

While the life of a forest ranger is in many ways a hard one, the government is constantly endeavoring to improve the conditions under which the men work. If a man likes the life and takes an interest in his work, there are many advantages to offset the disagreeable features. The compensation is sufficient to maintain a family comfortably, and the ranger has the satisfaction of knowing that his work is for the good of the general public.