CAMP FIRE DANGERS

Northern Advocate, 18 November 1929, Page 4

CAMP FIRE DANGERS

The holiday season is fast approaching, and the trail of the picnickers j v, ill soon he discernible. Picnicking today is different from that of former times, when excursionists were compelled to keep within hail of railway stations. The motor has come, and, by its aid, people are aide to go anyuhere at any time. One consequence is greater liability to community loss through fire caused by the careless ne«s of picnickers, for summer time ) rings dry grass and leaves, and a

dropped match, or smouldering embers, may easily start a conflagration which may do very extensive damage. Care is particularly needed in the north, whore areas of forest which can never he replaced arc the rendezvous of many motorists and campers during the summer months. Steps are taken to safeguard forest reserves, but the greatest preventive of fires is the cultivation of public conscience. To this end there .should he constant propaganda aimed at bringing home to the public individual responsibility for the preservation of timbered places. Among the many epigrams employed by the United States forest service to achieve this end is one which might well be posted in the ear of every motor tourist and on the tent walls of every eamper. It reads “One tree will make a million matches —a match may destroy a million trees.” This slogan, adapted to the safeguarding of forest, scenic reserve nr commercial grassland, may be used with advantage in New Zealand, for, as we have said, the eom-

ing of the motor has made it possible for fires to be lighted in isolated spots of scenic grandeur which in days gone by were safe from penetration. Such spots are beyond the reach of fire-fighters, and. accordingly are the more vulnerable.