Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1910 — FOREST FIRES IN INDIANA. [ARTICLE]

FOREST FIRES IN INDIANA.

Fires in Indiana that burn over fields and woods are usually small and seldom exceed 500 acres in area. Yet the aggregate area burned over is large and the annual loss to the state will reach thousands of dollars. No doubt a majority of the fires are originated by railroads, and most of the remainder are results of carelessness. A great part of this annual loss could be avoided by enforcing the fire law. The law provides “That any one who maliciously or wantonly sets fire to any woods or property not his own, or maliciously or wantonly permits fire to pass from his property to-the injury or destruction of the property of any other person shall on conviction be liable for all damages sustained and not fined less than five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, to which may be added imprisonment not exceeding thirty days.” “It shall be the duty prosecuting attorney to investigate and prosecute violators, and failure to do so makes him liable for the damages caused by the fire and subject to removal from office. It is the duty of the township road supervisor to employ a sufficient force of men to extinguish any fire that may occur in his district.’”

It is hoped that persons sustaining loss by fire will take advantage of this law. More convictions under its provisions would make people more careful about the fire. The State Board of Forestry- is endeavoring to prevent forest fires by having the fire law printed on muslin signs, which are sent without charge to any one who will tack' them up. For a supply of these signs address State Forester, Indianapolis. Indiana.