Shoshone National Forest

FIRE—ENEMY OF THE FOREST

Each forest fire that burns means a loss of forest resources. Timber, forage, wildlife are destroyed; soil erosion follows; everybody loses. Fires are always a menace in the summertime and more than half of them occur because some careless smoker or camper does not take care of his match, cigarette, pipe, or campfire. From 1909 to the close of 1939, 229 fires, which burned over 25,649 acres, have occurred. In recent years the Shoshone National Forest has suffered heavy losses from two large fires and an increasing number of smaller ones. The Crandall fire in 1935 burned over 12,600 acres. This tremendous and staggering loss was the result of the carelessness of ONE MAN. In 1937, the tragic Blackwater fire occurred. Although only 1,254 acres of forest were destroyed, the fire resulted in one of the worst disasters in the history of the Forest Service fire fighting. Fifteen men, whose memory has been perpetuated in the Firefighters Memorial paid the supreme sacrifice.

New improvements are being constructed in the never-ending fight to prevent or quickly control forest fires. Equipment, such as the Bosworth fire trencher, is being developed. This is a small machine which is guided by an operator and motored by a marine engine. The motor propels a series of steel lugs which kick out dirt and debris and speedily clear a fire trail down to mineral soil. Fire towers, which will make visible a large part of the forest, are in process of construction or are contemplated. In addition to the new tower on Clayton Mountain, another is being erected on Windy Mountain, located about 6 miles south of the Crandall Ranger Station. This will make visible a large portion of this immense country in the North Absaroka wilderness, including the area burned in the Crandall Creek fire of 1935.

Another tower on Clay Butte, near Beartooth Lake, will provide better protection for the scenic Beartooth Plateau and the Clarks Fork Valley.

When a smoke is spotted, the lookout observer determines the bearing to the fire and phones this information to a ranger or the forest supervisor so that action may be taken. If the lookout is uncertain of the stream valley or other topographical feature by which the fire can be located and best reached, a cross shot is obtained from another lookout station, if possible. In case of a large fire, an airplane cruise is sometimes made to observe the progress of the fire and determine the best way of controlling it.

High ranges produce fat lambs. F—385833

RETURNS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Twenty-five percent of all revenues derived from permitted uses on national forests is returned to the counties for road and school funds. In addition, 10 percent of the forest receipts is returned to the forest for the construction and maintenance of its road and trail system. Actually 35 percent of the gross forest receipts is returned directly and indirectly to the locality from whence it was collected.