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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 26, 1960)
0 0 0 0) 0 4 B MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD, ORE. BUND AT, JUNE it, 19B0 National Forest Emphasizes Safety at Annual Fire School Seasonal Help Is Instructed in All Aspects of Control Emphasizing safety, the Rogue River National forest conducted its annual fire con trol training school June 21 to 24 at Camp 2 located on the Butte Falls district. Purpose of the school is to acquaint seasonal and new forest employees in the cor rect methods of detection and suppression of fires. Most of the trainees will man look outs and guard camps during the summer months. Many of them are college students who spend their summer va cation employed by the forest ervice. Coordination and planning of the school was under the direction of Robert H. Tor helm, fire control officer on the Rogue River National for est. Assisting him in the in struction of the courses were district rangers, assistant rangers, and fire control offi cers from the six districts. More than 70 trainees at tended the session. They were divided into seven groups, composed of lookouts, fire men, and suppression crews. The employment assignment for the summer determined placement in the groups. Instruction in fire beha vior was accomplished by Harold A. Thomas, ranger of the Ashland district, who was assisted by Bob Taylor, as sistant ranger of the same district. In this course, students were instructed of the various elements that affect burning characteristics of fire. Dem onstrations ol buining mate rials gave gr.iphic illustra tions of fire behavior. A spe cial-built table made of wood. asbestos, and sheet metal, which was hinged in the mid dle, was used to demonstrate the effect of terrain To simulate steep country and the effects of convection currents, the hinged table was raised in the middle, and burning pine needles and twigs were placed on the in clined surface and ignited. In this manner, the students were able to see how fire re acts on a slope as opposed to flat surface. Thomas discussed the sub ject of weather as related to fire control. In this, he dis closed the effect of humidity and temperature on fire. He pointed out that humidity during the night is higher than in the day. Thus in fire supression, control should be accomplished by 10 a.m. of the morning following discov ery, before the humidity drops appreciably. Tempera ture, according to Thomas, has less effect on fire than humidity, but humidity gen erally drops as temperature rises. To demonstrate the effect of wind, a small hand model hair dryer was used to fan the flames of a miniature fire. This example served to show how a strong draft can in crease rate of spread and dan ger of spot-fires. The men were also cautioned to be on the alert for "dust-devils," which are small scale torna does, and are capable of spreading fire over a consid erable distance in an extreme ly short period of time. During the lecture, Thomas stressed safety. He stated "The two main responsibili ties of a crew boss are to get a full days work from his men, and to watch out for the safety of the crew." Map Reading Course The map reading course was instructed by Darroil K Frewing, Klamath district ranger; Paul Brady, fire con trol officer of the Klamath district; Randall F. Perkins, assistant ranger, Butte Fills, and Asa D. Twombly, Union Creek district ranger; assist ed by Robert Webb, Apple gate; Ward Blaine, Prospect; Gordon Walker, Butte Falls; George Woodllng, Ashland; and Robert Snoich, Apple-gate. The purpose of this course was to acquaint the studentB in practical map reading. Aft er a definition of rangelines and townships, the section numbering system was ex plained. The trainees were taught to read the legal de scription of maps down to 40 acre tracts. Given a legend upon which appeared such marks as build ings, forest camps, national forest boundaries, roads, trails, telephone lines, and lookouts, students were given specific points to find on the fireman's maps. Upon location of the point, they were then called upon to give the legal description of the 40-acrc quarter in which it appeared. Maps used In this course are the most accurate maps available, having been pre pared from aerial photos. The proper use of tools was instructed by Lowell Ash, fire control officer of the Union Creek district; Neil Suttell, Douglas Baker, Prospect dis trict ranger; Robert Krcll, as sistant ranger, Prospect; Asa Twombly, Union Creek dis trict ranger; and Donald Strong, Butte Falls district ranger. Assistant Instructors were George Wooding, Robert Taylor, and Robert Asher, Ashland; Ward Blaine, Pros pect; and Robert Snoich, Ap plegatc. The trainees were in structed in the same method of using basic fire tools, and the proper care of this equip ment. The three tools demonstrat ed included a shovel, a hazel hoe, and a Pulaski, which is a combination oxe and hoe. A fire pack was disassembled to show the contents. The p ick, which weighs about .10 pounds includes everything that Is needed for the initial attack on a small fire. This Includes a compass, protrac tor and map to aid the smoke chaser in location of the fire, food, tools, a first aid kit, a water-type fire extinguisher, and the necessary forms and reports. The progressive method of fire line construction was ex plained, and practiced by students. This system, called the bump method is han died as follows: Linabuilder First The linebuilder goes first with a cruiser's axe and blazes the trail. He is fol lowed by two men with Pu- laskis who brush out the fire line. Next comes the men with hazel hoes who break up the ground; and last, the shovel crew who clear away the ground down to the min eral earth. The last man in the line controls the line move ment. When he catches up to the man directly ahead, he yells "bump". The order is carried up the line and each man then moves ahead Bliort distance and resumes work. In fire line construc tion, the most important ele ment is cooperation. Each man must function as a part of the team. Students were then instruct ed that the purpose of a fire- line is singular. It isn't to stop fire, but to create a line from which a backfire can be set, and burned in the direction of the fire. After instruction In the methods of tool handling and small fire .lotion, the crews were given actual fires to suppress, under supervision of the instructors. The groups were divided into three-man crews, with one crew to a fire. When the fires were put out, a critique was held to discuss the performance of the crews, again stressing safety. The smokechasing portion of the school began with a lecture on how to read compass. Each man was then allowed to practice reading the bearings to several known landmarks. The group then formed an a 100-foot course which had been previously staked out. They paced the course 3 or 4 times, counting each double step. They were then able to average out the length of their pace. Each man was given a dif ferent azimuth (compass bear ing) and distance to a hypo thetical fire. Dividing their length of step into the dis tance to the fire, and follow ing the compass bearing, the men then headed off into the brush in pursuit of their fire. When the specified distance was paced off, the trainee then called to an instructor who measurer his distance from the mark. In this man ner, each man was able to de termine h 1 s accuracy in smokechasing. Instructors for this course were Robert Webb, Apple gate; Douglas Baker, Pros pect; Darroil Frewing and Paul Brady, Klamath; Donald Strong, Butte Falls; and Har old Thomas, Ashland assisted by Gordon Walker, Butte Falls; Robert Taylor, Ash land; and Ward Blaine, Pros pect. A lesson In fire detection was given for the lookouts by Douglas Finch, fire control of ficer on the Butte Falls dist rict. Assisting him was Doug las Shaw, assistant ranger of the Klamath district. In this course, lookouts were given instruction and practice in the use of a fite finder. The fire-finder is a large flat circular disc upon which is a Vi-inch scale map of the area. It is equipped with two sights. The lookout lines up the sights on a fire, and reads the bearings of the fire off the bearing circle. He ascertains the vertical angle of the fire in relation to the elevation of the lookout by reading anoth er scale. He then reads the distance of the fire from him on another scale and reports the fire. He gives the dis tance, legal description of the area down to the 40 acre quar ter, direction from which smoke is drifting, . volume, color, and characteristics, estimated rize, and whether or not the base is sighted. This information goes to the dispatcher. If two or more lookouts can take bearings on the same smoke, the refer ences are cross-plotted, and the location is considered much more accurate. Instruc tion for the lookout group was held on Buck Point Look out, an emergency manned station. At the completion of the fire control school session, a test was administered to the students to ascertain the value of the training session, and to determine where ad ditional instruction might have been beneficial. Evening events during the school included a Softball game refereed by Harold Thomas, and a lecture on the use of the forest service radio commission system by Harold Howard, electronics technU clan. Contests were held In compass reading and pacing, dirt throwing and iog sawing. ft&l'Jhf"' """"" (ryiffZi mm ftrt (ELM "tr''rt .M VAJ, Vw -V? l4 KKcimSmT itaMAj PRACTICE USE A group of students re- land district, and Neil Suttell, Applegate ceive practice in the progressive method of district ranger. It was part of a fire control fire line construction. They are supervised training school in the Butte Falls district by George Wooding, forester on the Ash- recently. If t 5 m . CHECK HOT SPOTS After suppressing a extinguished. About 70 trainees participated fire, members of the crew feel for hot spots in the forest service's fire control school last with bare hands to make sure all sparks are week. OPEN MONDAY AND FRIDAY TIL 9 P.M. WMULIE TMIEY 1 1 jl PLUS THIS TREMENDOUS SAVINGS 6' Standard Gauge Inlaid Linoleum ... textured Inlaid tile lasts for years Add charm to your home with smartly textured inlaid tile floors in rich shades of gray, pink, beige or red speckel. Smooth non-porous surface re sists dirt and household stains. Buy now while you can save. mo LJ sq. yd. Gray with pink & aquamarine. Beige with pink & aquamarine. 501 E. JACKSON SP 3-6661 Open Monday & Friday 'til 9 p.m. FREE PARKING "Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back" SEARS Owners Report Galls Near Homes Many home owners have been calling the county exten sion office inquiring about the tiny mustard-seed-like galls which they find on their pat ios and under their oaks, ac cording to Don Berry, Jackson county extension agent. "These little galls have a tendency to jump like a Mexi-1 can jumping bean," Berry! anid. "This characteristic is imparted in them by a tiny ! inwet which is inside." As the galls ripen and fall ! from the underside of the oak : leaves, the larvae throws It-: anlf within the gnll causing It ! to jump considerable dis tances probably in an attempt to find seclusion in a crack or crevlse for liberation. i The following spring tiny black wasps emerge and re infect the oak loaves In the area. This is a common pr-st which is occurring in epidem ic proportions this year. They work only on oak leaves, and there is no known control for them, the county agent said. However, they are seldom con sidered a serious problem. Horse Show Queen Injured in Fall Salem - fUPD - The Queen of the Keizcr Area Lions Club Horse Show fell from a horse Friday evening and suffered a slight concussion. Queen Jo Ann Monner, 14, Salem, was hurled over the head of her horse "Tammy" when the animal fell at the Monner home. Jo Ann rode In the Keller Days parade Saturday morn ing, but in a car -not on a bona. J&ufemem v-' miii. .fv v2J-Sli'i mm mm - . URGE YOU TO REGISTER YOUR BOYS NOW FOR vivicfi camp at mmnm uu July 17 to August 5 - For Boys From 8 to 15 Years of Age Here is wonderful health and character-building program for boys and a grand adventure for them, too. May we suggest that you check up NOW on the many advantages of this fine YMCA summer camping program and be sure that YOUR boy is registered? FUN TIME Is Always FIESTA TIME For the Finest . . . ALWAYS Be Sure to Ask for "JORGENSEN'S" 10 mm Yes, camping is fun and so Is EVERY other get-together with fi and that's when this fine Jorgensen's Ice Cream is SO good. It makes real party out of EVERY occasion. It's doubly GOOD with that added nutrient-NUTRIMIX-and comes in YOUR favorite flavorl CAMP LEADERSHIP The "Y" has Camp Director, Program Director, three Unit Directors (one for each age unit), and a Cabin Coun selor for each cabin. They all attend the Pre-Camp Leader ship Training Course held by the YMCA. HEALTH A camp nurse Is always on duty with a fully equipped First Aid Room with beds. She is a Registered Nurse. A health exam is required by all campers prior to going to camp. Cleanliness Is stressed to all the campers during the entire week. LOCATION OF CAMP The "Y's" camp is located on th southwest corner of Diamond Lake. It Is at the south end of the country homes area. Diamond Lake it about 10 miles northwest of Crater Lake. The road Is well marked to the camp. IMPORTANT TIMES TO REMEMBER Camp starts on Sunday at 4:00 o-m. Camo ends at 4:00 p.m. on the following Saturday. Sign up for camp as soon as possible, as the YMCA will have to stop registra tions when the list Is 72 campers per week. Camp office Is open week days from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 12:00 in the morning. Day Camp starts at 9:00 a.m. each morning. O O Q. (...) 0 O 0 0 O
