Deja Vu

September 29, 2009

Shovel, Mattock, and Ax

Tags:

California,

conservation,

environment,

forestry,

gifford pinchot,

natural resources,

theodore roosevelt

“L.A. Fire Nearly Contained,” Palm Springs Desert Sun, Sept. 28, 2009.

The 250-square-mile Station Fire was 98 percent contained today but continues to burn in an area inaccessible to ground crews, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

A 20-acre spot fire, discovered Tuesday, is burning in the San Gabriel Wilderness Area near Twin Peaks, according to the Forest Service. Inaccessible to ground crews, it has been held in check with retardant, the agency reported….

The fire, the 10th biggest in California since 1933 and the biggest ever in Los Angeles County, claimed the lives of two Los Angeles County firefighters -- Capt. Tedmund “Ted” Hall, 47, of San Bernardino County and firefighter Specialist Arnaldo “Arnie” Quinones, 35, of Palmdale.

The fire was set by an arsonist near a ranger station in the San Gabriel Mountains Aug. 26. The state has offered $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist, and Los Angeles County has announced a $50,000 reward.

About 500 firefighters remained deployed against blaze, which has scorched 160,577 acres, cost more than $89 million to fight and destroyed 89 residences, 26 commercial properties and 94 outbuildings.

The Use of Natural Forest Reserves, by The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Gifford Pinchot, forester), 1905.
Gifford Pinchot became chief forester when the General Land Office created the Forest Service in 1905; he is considered a founding father of America’s conservation movement.

HOW TO FIGHT FIRE.
When once a fire has spread over an acre or more, especially where much dead and down material makes it very hot, it may be so far beyond the control of one man that it is best to leave it and get help. The character and condition of the woods, the weather, and even the time of day, have so much to do with such cases that general directions have little value and all depends upon the experience and good judgment of the ranger.

Generally, it may be said that the best tools for fighting fire are the shovel, mattock, and ax. The ranger should always carry at least shovel and ax during all the dangerous season.

In damp, heavy timber usually travels slowly, and a few men, if persistent, can keep it in check by trenching, even though they may not extinguish it, and must continue the watch until rain falls.

In dry, open woods fire travels faster, and it is often best to go some distance to the most open and clean ground, and back fire from there. In handling back fires great care is needed to avoid useless burning; therefore, they should never be set except by forest officers, unless in great emergencies.

The night or the early morning hours are the best time to work, whenever any choice of time exists, for nearly all forest fires die down more or less during the cool of the night and flare up again during the heat of the day.

Following are several general principles to be borne in mind:

(a) Protect the valuable timber rather than the brush or waste.
(b) Never leave a fire, unless driven away, until it is put out.
(c) Young saplings suffer more than old mature timber.
(d) A surface fire in open woods, though not dangerous to old timber, does great harm by killing seedlings.
(e) A fire rushes up hill, crosses a crest slowly, and is more or less checked in traveling down. Therefore, if possible, use the crest of the ridge and the bottom as lines of attack.
(f) A good trail, a road, a stream, an open park, check the fire. Use them whenever possible.
(g) Dry sand or earth thrown on a fire is usually as effective as water and easier to get.
(h) A little thinking often saves labor and makes work successful. Ill-planned efforts suggested by haste and excitement rarely lead to success.

ACTION AND REPORT.
Small fires, extinguished without difficulty by the officer who discovers them, may be reported at the end of the month. The supervisor should be notified at once of large ones which require help from residents or other rangers, purchase of supplies, or attendance for several days. But if help is needed, the forest officer on the ground should get it at once. He should hire men and messengers, if necessary, send for supplies, and notify the supervisor of the action taken. The supervisor will furnish any further help needed and telegraph the Forester if special authorization is required.

In reporting upon fires, three classes should be distinguished, as follows:
(a) Camp fires and other small fires covering not more than a few square rods.
(b) Small forest fires, extinguished without any extra help or expense and generally not covering over 5 acres.
(c) Large fires, requiring extra help and expense.

Those of the first two classes may be included in one report at the end of the month. Give the number and location of each, with such information as to course and damage as seems necessary or is required by general instructions from the supervisor. Fires of the last class should be reported on separately. Cover all of the following points:

1. Location.
2. Damage done.
(a) Number of acres burned over.
(b) Number of acres of merchantable timber burned.
(c) Number of feet B. M. of:
(i.) Green timber destroyed.
(ii.) Dry timber destroyed.
(d) Value of all timber destroyed.
3. Probable cause.
4. By whom was fire discovered?
5. When was it discovered?
6. When was it brought to notice of forest officer?
7. When was the work of checking the fire begun?
8. When was the work finished?
9. How many extra men were employed?
10. Cost of fire:
(a) For help (outside of rangers)
(b) For materials, tools, etc.
(c) Total cost.

EXPENDITURES FOR FIGHTING FIRE.
Every forest supervisor is authorized, in person or through a subordinate, to hire temporary men, purchase material and supplies, and pay for their transportation from place to place to extinguish a fire; but when it is evident that the expense is liable to be over $300, he must at once telegraph the Forester for instructions to incur the additional expense. No expense for fighting a fire outside a reserve must be incurred unless the fire threatens it.
Any person paid for services at a fire must sign a subvoucher for the amount received, to be transmitted with the supervisor's regular monthly account for the month in which the expense is incurred. Full directions for preparing accounts are printed on the back of all vouchers.

Government employees and person having grazing or other permits within a forest reserve are not entitled to compensation for fighting fire.

While the government is anxious to prevent and fight fires, only a limited amount of money can be devoted to this purpose. Experience has proved that usually a reasonable effort only is justified, and that a fire which can not be controlled by 20 to 40 men will run away from 100 or even more men, since heat and smoke in such cases make a direct fight impossible.

Extravagant expenditures will not be tolerated. Fires are sometimes started for the sake of a job. In and about every reserve it is possible to enlist the cooperation of the better citizens, so that in time of need enough men of the right kind will be on hand. A crowd of men hastily gathered about a town without organization, interest, or experience, is valuable only as a last resort in extreme need.

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