Measurements of forest fire danger

Abstract

Although the annual destruction of life and property attributable to forest fires is enormous, scientific methods of forest fire control in the United States are of comparatively recent origin. In one important phase of control, that of determining how large a network of observers is necessary for the purpose of discovering forest fires in their infancy, accurate means of determination have been largely lacking. As a result of this uncertainty, lookout points have been excessively manned in some years, thus introducing unnecessary costs, and under-manned in other years, resulting in excessive fire damage.

Citation

Shames, Leo. 1938. Measurements of forest fire danger. Science. 88(2287):401-402.