CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY

THE GOVERNOR HAS PROCLAIMED
APRIL 18, 1914

| FIRE PREVENTION DAY

—A LESSON —

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CALIFORNIA STATE PRINTING OFFICE

CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY.

EUDEVAIVES VV. I OEUN|S © Ni= == Governor
FRANK C. SOR DANS ns ee eae oa ee Secretary of State
iW. Si WHE B22]: 2422-52 SoA eee BN Ge eee Attorney General
G. M; THOMANS=-_ - 2222-3 -- a 2 2 eee ee State Forester
0, OF 5,
APR 27 i914

SUGGESTIONS TO .TEACHERS.

a) 2 BOR DAY has passed and in observance of its true purpose
the school children of California have been impressed with
the real value of a tree as an individual and of many trees
as a forest. The tree carefully planted in the school yard
has been placed there and will be protected for the future.
So the spirit of Arbor Day remains. Nature enjoys 365 arbor days
each year; but, what is being done to develop and protect the thousands
of little trees she so faithfully endeavors to offer? “They stand alone
remote from cities and towns, born to struggle against many a foe, a
humble struggle against wind and storms that the children of to-day
may in years to come find shelter and pleasure under their branches;
that the homes of years to come may be built of wood as we build our
homes to-day.

The greatest enemy of our forests is fire. Many of the forest fires
are preventable, but the State has done nothing to insure their preven-
tion. We may delay in a futile attempt to convince ourselves that the
situation is not so serious as annual figures of loss indicate; neverthe-
less, the problem of forest protection is one that actually and logically
confronts the State. The spirit of Arbor Day will fail to stand the test
of consistency if we neglect our duty of protecting the forests planted
by nature. True consistency must find expression in a living endeavor
to teach our school children how to use and conserve that with which
we must learn to leave them provided, namely, the forests.

The necessity of fire prevention is made obvious by the Governor’s
proclamation of April 18, 1914, as Fire Prevention Day. One aim of
the proclamation is to decrease the fire risk throughout the State by
emphasizing the advisability of being careful with fire during the sum-
mer months, and of making improvements which will prevent the spread
of fires, both in forests and in chaparral and grass.

That the spirit may be carried out to the fullest extent the exercise
has been prepared with the hope that each student will be permitted to
get the substance of the lesson. Effort has been made to present the
most important phases of protective work. Since it is suggested that
two consecutive class periods will be devoted to this subject, it might be
well to devote the first hour to a study period during which time the
students will read the exercise carefully preparatory to questions which
the teacher may wish to ask in the following period. A few pupils may
be asked to give in their own words what the lesson teaches. The
teacher may present to the students the substance of the lesson, with

4 Oalifornia State Board of Forestry.

added suggestions, during the second hour, impressing upon them the
importance of fire prevention and its inevitable influence on the preser-
vation of forests and human lives.

A series of prizes is offered by officers of the State Board of Forestry
for the best titles for the picture on page 7. The plate represents
first, a woodland area typical of many of our valuable pine forests; the
second, a forest fire, caused probably by carelessness—nothing is done in
California to stop these fires; and the third explains itself, an area fire
swept, desolate and of practically no value. Two sets of prizes are
offered. Two first prizes of $5.00; two second prizes of $3.00; and two
third prizes of $1.00 will be paid. One set of prizes will be awarded
for the three best-titles from the seventh, eighth and ninth grades; the
other set for the three best titles from the tenth, eleventh and twelfth.
grades. The competition will close April 30th, and all titles should be
in the State Forester’s office by the afternoon of the same date. The
full name, address, school and grade of the student must accompany
the title. The word ‘‘Title’’ must appear on the upper left corner of
each envelope, and the latter addressed to the State Forester, Sacra-
mento, California. Credit will be given for neatness, handwriting, and
letter construction.

STUDENTS’ APPEAL FOR PROTECTION OF THEIR FORESTS.

If, after the lesson, certain students feel inclined, they may direct a
letter to their respective senators and assemblymen, urging state pro-
tection of their forests, streams, hunting grounds, and watersheds. The
children should feel that they have a right to expect the forests to be
protected for them. The perforated blank sheets in the back of this
pamphlet may be used for this purpose.

THE FORESTS OF CALIFORNIA.

Our State extends, in a direct north and south line, approximately
750 miles and from sea level we rise to the highest point in the United
States, Mt. Whitney, which is 14,898 feet in elevation. The State is
truly a remarkable one, in that there are to be found within its borders
so many variations of climate, so many contrasts in scenery from ocean
shore to snow-capped mountain peaks. Just as different tribes of
people adapt themselves to climate and altitude, so each forest tree
finds one climate and one range of elevation best suited to its growth.
One kind of tree will prefer the high and steep slopes of the mountains,
while another species will not grow well unless it is planted in a wide
fertile valley or near the seashore. Because of this there are different
types of forests in California. A broad division might be made as
follows:

Redwood Forests.

These forests are limited in their extent. The redwood trees, which
are cut for lumber, are found only on a narrow strip of land along the
California coast from Monterey County to the Oregon line. These
forests like the damp ocean air and require quite a bit of rain. Forest

Fire Protection Day, April 18, 1914. 5

fires do not do very much damage to redwood forests until after log-
ging; then many dead branches are on the ground and become so dry
Curing the summer that fires sweep through them and often kill the
iittle new trees that are coming up to replace those taken away by the
lumbermen.

Oak Forests. 7 TTS

There are many different kinds of oak trees in California. One of
the most beautiful oaks is the one called Valley Oak. Years ago there
were large forests of this species in the two great valleys of the State.
Many of the trees have been cut down and now there are comparatively
few left, scattered here and there.

Pine and Fir Forests.

These are very large and valuable forests and are found generally in
the mountain and foothill regions. Pine forests suffer from fire each
year, and some plan must be adopted to reduce the danger of fire
destroying the old as well as the young trees. Very often theré are
many kinds of bushy plants growing under the big trees, and when
these catch fire the flames are so hot that the trees themselves are
burned. The most valuable tree of our State is the sugar ‘pine, and
soon there will be very few of them left. Every summer thousands of
little sugar pine trees are killed by fires which might be prevented.
If.this destruction is allowed to continue, there will be no sugar pines
left by the time the children of to-day grow up; there will hardly be
any valuable forests left unless we provide for them.

Chaparral Forests. Te

Thousands of acres of mountain and hill land in the State are covered
with ‘‘brush.’’ This vegetation consists of many different forms of low
erowing trees and shrubs. Manzanita, buckthorn, several varieties of
sage, scrub oak, lilac, and a great many others go to form what we
collectively term chaparral forests.

WHAT OUR FORESTS MEAN TO US.

A country without forests is indeed poor. Forests not only provide
us with fuel and lumber, but indirectly they affect every industry.
The wild animals find their food and shelter in the woods. Campers
would find little pleasure if they were forced to spend their vacation in
a country without trees and streams. We all like the woods; there is a
charm in the rippling brook and a delight in the music of the wind
through the trees. When summer comes these pleasures eall us and
invite us to become a part of them. What fairy tale is worth telling
which has no forest mystery? One of the oldest definitions for a forest
was given by Manwood in 1598. He called a forest “‘a certain territory
of woody grounds, fruitful pastures, privileged for wild beasts and
fowls of the forest, chase and warren, to rest and abide in, the safe
protection of the King for his princely delight and pleasure.’’ Still
recognizing the true value of the forests the latest revised Encyclo-
pedia Britannica gives the following definition : “A forest is an area
which is for the most part set aside for the production of timber and
other forest produce, or which is expected to exercise certain climatic
effects, or to protect the locality against injurious influences.’’

¢

6 California State Board of Forestry.

THINGS THAT FORESTS GUARD AGAINST.

1. The woods provide grateful shade in summer from the heat of
the sun.

2. In winter, when fierce winds and storms come, the forests serve to
protect against damage. They act as great wind breaks and provide
shelter for the wild animals.

3. When hillsides are bare and without trees the rain often washes
great ditches which become so numerous that the land is useless to
farmers. This action is called ‘‘erosion.’’ Trees and shrubs send
their roots into the ground and tend to keep the water back and allow
it to sink into the ground instead of rushing off on the surface.

4. In the same manner forests often prevent floods and torrents in
winter. The roots act as filters and permit the rain water to pass
through the soil slowly. Because of this springs are often regulated
and streams fiow steadily all through the year. This is much better
than to have a rushing muddy torrent during the winter and a dry
sandy creek bed all through the summer. A watershed covered with
trees will discharge a clearer, and far more regular, stream than one
that is unforested.

THE NEED OF PROTECTING OUR FORESTS.

So, as long as men need lumber for building their homes, hill land for
their farms, protection against summer heat and winter cold, streams
for water power and rivers for navigation, the work of protecting the
forests will be a duty of every man, woman and child. Keeping fire
from destroying the forests in many cases is keeping it from burning
our homes, for many of us live near the woods or have brush and forest
trees all around our houses. To prevent fire is by all means the best
way to control it. Fire, damaging insects, wasteful use of lumber and
logs, neglect and several other agencies are enemies of the forests. Fire
is the most dangerous. We can learn to be frugal in cur use of the
forests, but a forest fire has no conscience.

HOW FOREST FIRES START.
Forest and brush fires may start from a hundred different sources.
The main causes are:
RAILROADS. :
LIGHTNING.—This is one cause which we can not prevent, but we
can prevent the fires from becoming large ones.

INCENDIARY.—These fires are set on purpose and the penalty for
lighting such fires is very severe.

BrusH BuRNING. ;

CAMPERS AND HuntERS.—This is a very important class; picnickers
are also included. 3

SAWMILLS.—Sparks from sawmill stacks start fires at times.

UnkNown.—Many fires can not be traced to their start and no one
knows how they begin.

MIScELLANEOUS.—AII sorts of causes not placed under the other
headings are included in this class. Fires starting from elec-
tric wires, for example, would be classed as ‘‘miscellaneous.’’

Fire Protection Day, April 18, 1914.

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8 3 California State Board of Forestry. °

HOW FIRES DO DAMAGE.

When a fire gets away and burns through a forest, even if the big
trees are not killed, the little ones are, and often the big ones are
injured so that they will always be scarred. A grass fire frequently
kills little trees that are in its path by scorching the limbs and stems
or by heating the roots to such a point that they fail to take in nourish-
ment any longer. The tender bark at the base of the trees also may be
baked—this will result almost always in killing the trees.

Large forest trees are killed by fire when there is sufficient under-

A little care will prevent the burning to death of many of
our wild animals. Protecting the forests means also the
protection of all sorts of animal and bird life.

brush to make a very hot flame, or when the wind is high and carries
the fire up into and through the tops of the trees.

When pasture grass burns, the soil is injured by being baked and
also by being robbed of certain chemical elements which nature intends
should be returned in some way.

When brush is burned on a whole mountain the slopes are left bare
and ‘‘erosion’’ will very likely take place when the next heavy rains
come. Quite often wild animals get caught in brush fires, and, not
knowing where to run for safety, are burned to death. Many deer
and hundreds of rabbits lost their lives during the fires last summer.

When a fire starts no one is able to say just how far it will spread.
Last September a little fire started in some brush; few people thought

Fire Protection Day, April 18, 1914. 9

anything about it, but before it was out hundreds of men were called to
fight it. .A woman, living in a small house in the woods, saw the fire
coming and ran, with her little daughter, into the cellar. The house
eaught fire and both mother and little girl were burned.

So fires do destroy human lives, forests, homes, fences, little trees
(which should be the forests of the future), farms, and many other
valuable things. Do you think it is worth while being careful? Is it
not worth our time to remember to prevent fires starting?

One careful thought may prevent untold damage and hours of bitter
regret.

HOW TO FIGHT FOREST FIRES.
Grass Fires.

These can sometimes be put out by using wet sacks. If the wind is
blowing hard it will be difficult to beat the flames out, and the best way,
in this case, is to scrape and clear a trail in front of the fire and try to
keep the flames from jumping across it. Never back-fire unless it is
absolutely necessary. Remember that a back-fire set to save one house
may burn up many others if it is poorly planned. Make clearings
around your homes before a fire threatens you and you won’t regret it.
Put a little grass fire out as quickly as possible because it will spread
rapidly if neglected and will soon become a raging wall of flames.
Hoes, rakes, yard-brooms, wet sacks and green boughs are the best
things to use in putting out a grass fire.

Timber Fires.

These can best be fought by preventing them. When a fire is burn-
ing through the tops of trees it is very hard to handle. The work of
controlling such a fire calls for a large number of men, and firebreaks
must be cut some distance in front of the flames. When dead brush and
litter is cleared away from under the trees there will be little danger
of a timber fire spreading, under ordinary wind conditions. In fighting
a timber fire it is sometimes necessary to dynamite the standing snags
to prevent their scattering sparks. Axes, saws, brush-hooks and shovels
are always useful in fighting a timber fire.

Brush Fires.

Make a firebreak—that is, a cleared trail from 10 to 50 feet wide—
through the brush, preferably along a ridge, before a fire threatens you.
If a fire does come, guard the firebreak or a road in front of the fire and
try to keep the flames back. Quite often a very good back-fire can be
started from just such a firebreak. Shovels and brush-hooks are the
most valuable tools in the brush, but quite frequently axes, hoes and
rakes can also be used to advantage.

Always call a firewarden or some grown men to help you when a fire
gets away. Don’t wait and wonder whether or not you can put the fire
out alone unless you are sure that you can. Do as the fire will do if it
gets a chance—ACT QUICKLY.

1¢ California State Board of Forestry.

There is a great deal of dead brush and many small dead trees in our forests. Such
material burns readily and a fire once started in it is difficult to control; it kills or
injures many of the living trees and destroys most of the smaller ones. The picture

on the cover shows such material being piled in the open where it will be burned during
the wet season.

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This picture was taken in a forest where the conditions were similar to those shown
above; but here the dead brush and trees have been burned and the live trees are now
comparatively safe from fire. A fire lane has been built to keep out fires starting on
areas that have not been cleared up.

Fire Protection Day, April 18, 1914. ial

WHAT EVERY STUDENT SHOULD KNOW.

1. The total acreage of land surface in California is 99,898,880 acres.
Texas is the only state larger than California.

2. There are approximately 20,604,000 acres of forest land in
California.

3. There are nineteen national forests in the State representing a
total area of 12,104,000 acres.

4. There are approximately 12,786,306 acres of merchantable forests
in California.

5. There are 8,500,000 acres of these merchantable forests privately
owned.

6. California has no state forests; several states have.

7. The forests outside the national reserves are very poorly protected
from fire because California has failed to let the people make a law that
is necessary.

8. Forest fires result in the loss of human life, public improvements,
timber, little trees that would some day be big ones, game, homes,
orchards, live stock, forage and plants from which bees get their honey.

9. The length of the fire danger season in California is from May 15th
until October 15th. This means that everything is so dry during this
period that fires will easily start unless everyone is careful to prevent
them.

10. The six rules which should always be remembered are:

(1) Be sure your match is out before you throw it away.

(2) Knock out your pipe ashes or throw your cigar or cigarette
stump where there is nothing to catch fire. Better yet—don’t
smoke. .

(3) Don’t build a camp fire any larger than is absolutely neces-
sary. Never leave it even for a short time without putting it out
with water or dirt.

(4) Don’t build a camp fire against a log or tree. Build a small
one where you can scrape away the needles, leaves or grass from all
sides of it.

(5) Don’t build bonfires. The wind may come up at any time
and start a fire you can not control. Never play with matches.

(6) If you discover a fire, get word of it to the nearest State
Firewarden or Forest Officer or the land owner as quickly as you
possibly can.

Learn and remember and practice these rules and you will be a
valuable citizen.

11. California has not set aside a single dollar for forest protection.
The United States government wants to help us but will not until our
State does something to help herself.

12. Every oné can help. by urging that California as a State adopt a
fire protection plan. |

13. The State must pass the most suitable kind of forestry laws and
provide enough money to work out the laws.

14. It is especially important to keep fire patrols in the woods during
the summers.

15. During 1913 in California 61,812 acres of merchantable forests
were burned over. This represents a money loss of approximately
$124,059.

1 California State Board of Forestry.

16. The total money loss occasioned by forest fires in 1913 in Cali-
fornia, including damage done to houses, timber and pastures, amounted
to $511,077. This amount of money is enough to pay for protecting
the forests for several years and we have allowed it to go up in smoke.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO PREVENT FIRES.

To-day let us plan some way in which we will make it harder for a
fire to start in our community during the coming summer months.

Those of us who live near brush and forests can prevent possible
danger by carefully cleaning away the dry grass and inflammable
material from around our homes.

When we see campers starting out for their vacation let us not forget
to warn them to be careful with their camp fires and matches.

When we go on a picnic let us watch to see that the fire, if one is Lit,
is safely placed, carefully watched and entirely put out before leaving.

Let us never build a fire to burn brush or rubbish unless there is
plenty of open bare land all around the pile that is to be burned.

We should never think of building any bonfire or even a camp fire on
a very windy day. If a camp fire is necessary on a windy day let us
take all the more care with it and put it entirely out with water before
leaving it.

Don’t forget that sensible people never play with matches. :

Boys! Don’t ‘‘smoke out’’ bees unless you intend to ‘‘stay with it’’
to put the fire out.

It is dangerous to throw firecrackers into dry grass. Let us leave the
fireworks at home when we go camping or on Fourth of July picnics.

Don’t watch a little grass fire because it looks pretty. -Put it out.

Take this pamphlet home and show it to your parents and ask the
to help too. .

Never forget that big fires will always be prevented if we are
always careful with small ones.

Makers
PAT, JAN. 21, 1908

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