District ranger.

The heaviest burden of fire protection falls on the district ranger He is responsible, on a certain allotted area, for all lines of protective work-prevention, detection, and control-and usually more or less current administrative work in addition. His principal job is detec tion and control-detection always, and control only to a point where he is able to efficiently handle it. This means usually fires of classes A and B, and the smaller class C fires.

Fire-fighting forces.

Fire-fighting forces may be classified as first, second, and third lines of defense.

First line: Primarily smoke chasers, but includes all the regular protective force.

Second line: Forest officers not a part of the regular protective organization, improvement, reconnaissance, and other crews, forest users, settlers, and per diem guards.

Third line: Fire fighters drawn from the general labor markets. Project fires.

The district ranger's primary function is to handle detection and control up to the third line of defense. He will handle the third line of defense as long as the machinery at his disposal is adequate to maintain the desired efficiency. At just what point such machinery becomes inadequate is a matter about which the ranger must use judgment, taking into account his specific instructions from the supervisor. Ordinarily the larger fires will be put on a project basis; this usually means those fires requiring outside help which can not be extinguished within two or three days' time.

Fire chief.

Project fires will be placed in charge of a fire chief, who may be a man detailed from the patrol force, a local man engaged for the purpose, a forest officer detailed by the supervisor, or the district ranger himself. In the latter event the position of district ranger becomes vacant, and some other man must be assigned to this work.

It is apparent that the same man can not fill the position of district anger and fire chief on a project fire at the same time. It will be the duty of the district ranger, however, to do the best he can in both positions, if necessary, until the supervisor can send him relief. If the supervisor can not fill the gap, the district forester will send assistance, either by transfer from the forces under his control or by appealing to the forester for aid.

Quartermaster.

On most large fires it is advisable to assign a quartermaster to attend to the duties of getting supplies and men as requested by the fire chief. In a great many instances the district ranger or the fire chief or the clerk in the supervisor's office can fulfill this function without serious interference with established duties. Wherever necessary to secure the required efficiency, a special man will be secured in the same manner as a fire chief is obtained.

Relation of district ranger, fire chief, and quartermaster.

Unless otherwise declared by the supervisor (or higher authority), both the fire chief and the quartermaster will work directly under the district ranger and be governed by his instructions. The two positions will be coordinate, and neither man will have any authority over the other. The fire chief will handle one fire or portion of a i fire, and the quartermaster will look after the needs of all the fires logically supplied from one base. Naturally, wherever greater efficiency can be secured, one or both these officers will report directly to the supervisor.

Selection of patrol force.

The district ranger is responsible for the efficiency of the work in his district, and the supervisor for the entire work on the Forest. The fundamental factor in securing efficiency is the selection of the personnel. Obviously, therefore, the district ranger should, so far as practicable, have a hand in selecting the patrolmen who are needed for his district. He will make his recommendations to the supervisor, who will pass upon them. The district forester, upon

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request, will aid in the selection of forestry students or men for any particular position for which local material is not available. The opportunity to train men for future rangers offered by the positionis patrolman should not be overlooked.

Instructions.

Before the beginning of the fire season the supervisor will give the vi district ranger written instructions, outlining his duties and author ity, and indicating the qualitative and quantitative standards by which the results of his work will be measured. Usually the in structions covering fire protective work will be incorporated with similar outlines for other duties.

The district ranger, on his part, should give every patrolman similar written instructions, which will be approved in advance by the supervisor.

Training.

The fire game is one in which every player, if the team expects to win, must do his full share. When three-quarters of the players are more or less new at the game the importance of training is apparent. Never take for granted that a patrolman knows what is expected of him. Tell him the rules of the game, the whole plan of the organi zation, the standards which govern, his exact function in promoting the general scheme, and just exactly what he is to do when his turn

comes.

This training must be carried mostly by the district ranger and continued throughout the season-by talking, by drawing pictures, by object lessons, by questions, by supplying literature or any other possible means. The Forest Service forms and procedure, in so far as they apply, must be explained; but above all, every patrolman should be made to feel that he is a part of a great organization with very definite ideals and practical purposes. The esprit de corps must be felt by a patrolman if his whole-souled cooperation is to be obtained. Plan definitely for periodic visits throughout the season to every patrolman and adhere to the plan so far as conditions permit. Usually the district ranger should spend from one day every

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week to one day every two weeks with each man, depending upon the latter's experience and ability.

Discipline.

The fire plans once made, the positions filled, the instructions given, every man must adhere absolutely to the rules. If he is not willing to do that he only clogs the machinery and must be removed. Unless superseded by instructions from the supervisor or higher authority, the district ranger is the boss within his district and every man must be governed accordingly.

In a similar way the fire chief is absolute boss of his fire, and unless superseded under instructions from the district ranger or higher authority, he must be obeyed without question.

Inspection.

A fire protective organization is not automatic. The men employed either in yearlong positions or as patrolmen differ in degree of efficiency and alertness. There is nothing which will take the place of systematic inspection as a means of keeping a big organization actively alert. Inspection which is constructive-by the district ranger, the supervisor, and representatives of the district forester-is needed. On some Forests where current business is very heavy, a special man has been assigned as fire inspector. The bulk of the inspection work, however, must be carried on from the supervisor's office. Surprise fires have proven their value in inspection work wherever they can be used with safety.

Fires outside ranger district.

The district ranger is primarily responsible for the fires which occur within his allotted territory or ranger district, and for maintaining the integrity and efficiency of his organization. Usually a fire discovered in an adjoining district requires simply a report to the proper forest officer in order to insure action. Cooperation between district rangers, however, must be complete, and should extend even to the point of a ranger fighting fire outside of his own district, when that can be done without actually endangering the area for which

he is responsible, and the adjoining district needs assistance. With a out specific authority from the supervisor, however, any action take P by a ranger to extinguish fires outside of his own district should be short duration. The matter is one which must be left largely to the judgment of the district ranger, guided by the principle that his chie job is to run the protective machine within his own territory, but bearing always in mind that he belongs to a wide-spread organization designed to stop forest fires wherever they occur.

PREVENTION.

Causes of fire.

Most fires are caused by human carelessness or maliciousness; the records show that about 70 per cent of all fires in the National Forests of Montana and northern Idaho originate in this way. Fortunately only a small per cent are intentionally started.

Railroads.

Danger from railroads can be lessened or eliminatea entirely only through action by the district forester, the State, or some associated effort. Action to secure right-of-way clearing and other preventive measures by the railroads will be initiated by the district forester. Forest officers can assist by establishing friendly relations with the local officials of the railroads and keeping an accurate record which will show the responsibility of the railroads for fires along their rights-of-way.

Campers.

Campers cause fires through carelessness and ignorance. The fact that they go camping at all is sufficient evidence of their interest in preserving the natural beauty of the Forest. They do not realize the destructive possibilities of a small fire, and they do not understand how to put out a camp fire. Tact, patience, and intelligent sympathetic instruction will do a great deal to minimize this danger. Visit the campers frequently and endeavor to establish cordial relations, losing no opportunity to actually demonstrate what is meant by care with fire" and "putting out a camp fire."