File:Canadian forest industries July-December 1921 (1921) (19908655224).jpg

Title: Canadian forest industries July-December 1921
Identifier: canadianforjuldec1921donm (find matches)
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors:
Subjects: Lumbering; Forests and forestry; Forest products; Wood-pulp industry; Wood-using industries
Publisher: Don Mills, Ont. : Southam Business Publications
Contributing Library: Fisher - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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CANADA LUMBERMAN 40
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Forest fires as seen from the air. Incipient fire spotted by airplane - air photo. rangers, heretofore often out of touch with their -base for days at a time, can now receive or send messages as readily as over the land phone. Portable gasoline pumps, which have proved so successful that they are gradually taking their place as a definite part of modern logging equipment, are more plentifully supplied. The aeroplane is also proving a valuable accessory in modern forest protection. The Department early recognized that it could not, on the funds available, operate a flying squadron of its own. Co operation with the Dmoinion Air Board was therefore clearly indicated, and during the present fire season we have arranged to use planes when the necessity arises. So far the flights made have been more or less experimental; the initial flights being taken with a view to asc^r taining the extent of the damage occasioned by the terrific windstorm of January 29th, this year. An aerial cruse was made under the di- rection of the Department, resulting in the location of the wind-blown areas, which were then photographed.. This information, gathered by one plane in a few days, would have required weeks of effort by several partes of ground cruisers to secure, and from the information secured the Department was able to plan special measures for the protection of the wind-swept area. In direct protection also the planes have a future. It is well known, of course, that speed of initial action when a fire is spotted means the difference between success and failure. With a plane oper- ating over a given territory fires can be spotted while still small muck more rapidly than could be done by a man on the ground. This being so, there is also the same speed available for reporting such fires, or, in case of necessity, transporting men and equipment as near the scene as possible. Again, in th case of large fires, it is possible to fly over the area and spot strategic lines of defence, such as rock bluffs, swamps, creeks, etc., which could be utilized as fire breaks, effecting a considerable saving of time and timber, as a fire line could be short- ened or strengthened at strategic points. This information could be gathered in the course of minutes compared to hours on foot, and time is the "be all and end all" of fire fighting. Spirit of Citizenship Invoked A still greater advantage- resulting from the use of aeroplanes is the ease with which expert direction and supervision of fire fighting can be attained. The aeroplane for fighting bush fires is what the high speed auto is for the city fire chief. What will be the ultimate future of the aeroplane, or seaplane as used on the coast in connection withour work, is impossible to event attempt to forecast. British Columbia, with its miles of coast line, its numerous lakes and rivers, offers the ideal operating area for seaplanes. From the many possi- bilities already demonstrated it is not too much to expect that in the future the use of planes in connection with general Forest Branch work will exceed even our most optimistic plans. In addition to mechanical equipment, however, means must be found for opening the back valleys and distant mountain sides and making them accessible in case of fire. To meet this need a progress ive campagn of trail improvements has been planned and is now being carried out. It will take years to complete all the trails needed, but it is encouraging to know that each season we will be nearer the end, and our control work will be that much easier. But with the adoption of equipment, the big personal side of for- est protection has not been neglected. A campaign to arouse the in- telligent sympathy of the responsible citizens throughtout the province has already resulted in the assumption of fire suppression duties on the part of the more interested public, and, by energetic action, fires have been put out that in other years would have been allowed to burn until the "fire warden" arrived. Here is a forest protection program to be aimed at! A province of citizens who realize what de- layed action means, and who have sufficient interest and far-sighted- ness to take the first step; the step that means the difference between an incipient fire controlled and a forest fire with resultant economic waste in burned timber and control coasts. Co-operation with municipalities is being continued. This gave excellent results last year and still better results are hoped for. Onr principal logging operations have been organized into fire control forces with an honorary fire warden, instructed in what action to take, in charge of each. The same idea has been carried to local communi- ties. Men have been lined up and instructed in their fire position, and an honorary warden appointed to take such action as is necessary in case a fire occurs. Already results have begun to come in; not only have fires been caught in the incipient stage, but prosecution for in- fringement of the fire law and convictions have been obtained from the prompt action taken by these honorary fire wardens. We canno< hope to become 100 per cent, efficient unless we have public interest and public sympathy. This, I believe, we are succeeding in getting, and that the honorary fire warden will be a big factor in eventual'y attaining our aim. Forestry Schools are Doing Good Work There are now four schools—in Toronto, New Brunswick, Laval and the recently-formed school of the University of British Columbia. Speaking of their work and .worth the other day, a leading forester said: "This is enough in number, perhaps, but the equipment is not sufficient to cope with the tremendous problems that face the Dominion to-day. Canadians must go to the United States or Europe for ad- vanced work in forestry, and although it is an excellent idea to get the perspective of another country, facilities for higher work should be available for those who do want it, especially when such work could be given in the Dominion just as well as anywhere else in the world. The forest trouble will have to be solved with the assistance of foresters, and we believe that those foresters should be Canadians and educated in the Dominion just as far as it is consistently possible. We hope that the "Canada Lumberman" will do what it can to help our development and assist in our co-operation with the lumbermen." A tree will make a million matches; a match may destroy a million trees.. When in the woods take no chances with lighted matches, tobacco, or camp-fire. Get the habit. Be careful with fires in the woods.

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