FIRE-FIGHTING TRAINS

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6841, 23 April 1932, Page 9

FIRE-FIGHTING TRAINS

THE FOREST FIRE DANGER

Wherever a timbered tract still exists there is the ever-menacing danger of a forest fire. In tlie northern and northwestern States of America during the dry seasons fires arc often started by some careless camper or from the sparks of a locomotive. Flames then sweep through the forests and destroy many squares miles of fine trees. The same menace always is looming largely in the heavily timbered regions of the southern States and throughout the forested sections of mountain countries. In the Sierra Nevada mountains the Southern Pacific railroad, has co-opcr-ated with the Government forest rangers in curbing forest fires. The railroad lias installed an elaborate system for fighting fires in the mountains. When a ranger spots a fire from one of his watch towers lie immediately gets in touch with railroad officials by telephone. If the scene of the fire is anywhere near a railroad line the railroad company dispatches a special fire-fight-ing train to tim region at once. The locomotive, supplies the force to project powerful streams of water on the blaze.