. Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters), no. 33-35. Forests and forestry. M (2) INTRODUCTION The greatest curse of our forests is fire. Nature's product of years can be wiped out in a moment by this devastating element. Fire has been the principal cause of the extensive forest devastation through- out the United States. In Pennsylvania alone there are over 3,500,000 acres of land which have been reduced to idleness through devasta- tion. There are 81,000,000 acres of such devastated land in the United States. These lands, good for no other purpose than to produce wood, shoul
. Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters), no. 33-35. Forests and forestry. M (2) INTRODUCTION The greatest curse of our forests is fire. Nature's product of years can be wiped out in a moment by this devastating element. Fire has been the principal cause of the extensive forest devastation through- out the United States. In Pennsylvania alone there are over 3,500,000 acres of land which have been reduced to idleness through devasta- tion. There are 81,000,000 acres of such devastated land in the United States. These lands, good for no other purpose than to produce wood, should be made to work. They will do so if fire is kept out of them. The amazing feature about forest fires in Pennsylvania is that they are practically all of human origin. Discarded lighted matches, burn- ing tobacco, deserted camp fires, careless brusih burning, defective spark arresters and ash pans on locomotives, all contribute their Hhare to forest destruction. It is a queer psychology that permits a citizen who takes the utmost precaution against fire in his home to be careless with fire on or near forest land. As appalling as has been the loss of life and property through forest fires, the average citizen is just beginning to realize the necessity for caution against them. Forest fires will not be stopped until he becomes determined that they shall be prevented. He can be expected to do so when he understands fully the vital respects wherein his welfare is affected by fires. The main purpose of the accompanying lessons in forest protection by the Chief Forest Fire Warden, George H. Wirt, is to enlighten our citizens on the menace from forest fires, the trail of destruction left in their wake, and our responsibility to provide a forest heritage to our children. The Department needs the active cooperation of all public-spirited Pennsylvanians in its effort to instill in the mind of every man, woman and child in the State the need to keep fire out of the woods that our forest
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