FIR

'IRE fighting always has been and probably always will be an unpleasant, backbreaking job. It holds little glamour for the tired, footsore man on the fireline or the men whose job it is to keep him adequately supplied with food and equipment. But each year hundreds and hundreds of men from all walks of life are called upon to assist in the battle against one of Man's oldest enemies-uncontrolled fire.

Fires are not all the same. For those who live in the cities and towns, fire means the wailing howl of a siren announcing the prompt dispatch of firemen and mobile equipment. In most urban communities a regular force of equipment and men (or a standby reserve of public spirited volunteers) stand ready at all times to protect the lives and property of the community. To report a fire is to lift the telephone receiver and dial a number, or pull the level in a firebox down once and let go.

Fire in a city or town may often have a very personal touch (though it is far too easy to ignore the sounds and become complacent about fire). It may be a house on a nearby street, a building around the corner, or a runaway grass fire on a vacant lot. But it is close to home and the charred, blackened results are there for any one to see.

Fire in the woods or back country is a different matter. No one may know when they start. There may be no sirens to signal that someone is on the way to put them out. Fires may burn for hours or even for days before they are discovered, unless there is an adequate detection system to scan or patrol the area.

Fire in the woods or on the range may be a much less personal experience. Relatively large forest and range fires may in fact directly affect only a few people-a lumberman, a rancher, a farmer, and a suppression crew. But forest and range fires indirectly affect everybody, because they destroy or damage valuable resources that are a part of the Nation's storehouse of raw materials.

Fire in the forest or on the range destroys waterholding vegetation, allowing the destructive erosion of fertile topsoils.

Fire destroys the standing timber for harvest and the young seedlings that would be tomorrow's

crop.

Fire destroys beautiful scenery and recreation

areas.

Fire destroys the home and food supply of both

domestic livestock and native wildlife.

Fire protection and suppression on public domain lands is a large and important job of the Bureau of Land Management. Great strides have been made in reducing forest and range fires on our public lands. New techniques and equipment are constantly being pressed into service to reduce annual fire losses.

Fires are being attacked by aerial water and chemical bombing. Helicopters are aiding and speeding up attack time.

Fire danger rating systems are being installed to aid fire prevention and presuppression programs. Fires during 1957 were unusually severe, particularly in Alaska and in some areas of the West. A total of 403 fires in interior Alaska burned an estimated 5,034,000 acres of forest, tundra, and muskeg.

Fire in Alaska presents detection and suppression problems of enormous proportions. Distances are very great-supply lines from headquarters to fire lines may exceed 500 miles. Transportation and access are severely limited. The fire season is long, precipitation is low, and midsummer dry lightning storms are frequent.

Fire control in Alaska by BLM has, in spite of these handicaps, reduced the average annual burn by 75 percent since 1946.

Fire control programs have been developed. Program accomplishment will demand an expanded fire control effort. It will mean additional modern fire-fighting equipment; cooperative aerial patrols for early fire detection; increased contracts for large aircraft and helicopters for transportation and supply; a trained crew of smoke jumpers for quick initial attack; and adequate logistic facilities at strategic locations to house equipment. and supplies.

Fire protection and suppression on public lands is a necessary part of the Nation's land and resources management and conservation. It is a cooperative job that requires the best efforts and support of everyone.

Fire prevention and control cannot be left up to "someone else." Everyone can and must help with the job, in the city, on the farm, and in the woods.

Fire control on our public lands is everybody's personal business-PREVENT FOREST AND RANGE FIRES.

End

by ROYALE K. PIERSON, Range Officer, BLM

EW ZEALAND was chosen as the host country

gress in 1956 for good reason. Seventy-eight percent of the Commonwealth's economy is based on the products of its lush and verdant grasslands. A more fitting background for a meeting of grassland workers could scarcely be found anywhere.

A few miles outside of Palmerston North, seat of the Grassland Congress, delegates could stand on a low hill called Mount Stewart and look out over more than a million acres of some of the most productive grassland in the world. The highest quality pastures produce from 400 to 500 pounds of butterfat per acre (the principal measure of dairy product output)-an exceptionally high rate of productivity. Next in order of productivity are the sheep farms which carry up to 12 ewes per acre year long-also representing a very high carrying rate for the land.

The International Grassland Congress is an informal organization of the world's leading research workers and experts in the field of grassland management. The Congress assembles at four-year intervals to exchange information on scientific advancements in grassland technology

and to observe the handiwork of colleagues in the host countries during pre- and post-congress tours. Following two weeks of formal sessions and organized discussions at Massey Agricultural College, tours had been arranged for the delegates to observe grassland management both in New Zealand and Australia. The writer's chief interest was with natural grazing areas in the lower rainfall zones. So he joined with two other members of the United States delegation in a tour especially tailored to view the largest area of rangeland.

The New Zealand Government has many counterparts of agencies in our Federal Government such as a Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Soil Conservation Service, Bureau of Lands and Surveys, and others. Representatives of these agencies were most cordial and spared no effort in making advance contacts with field personnel to serve as guides and with range operators or "run holders" as they are called in New Zealand. Likewise, during the Congress sessions, similar arrangements were made with Australian delegates to visit their country.

The Commonwealth of New Zealand is comprised of two principal islands with a total area