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FEAR FIRE IN ADIRONDACK FORESTS AI.liAXV, X. Y., August 25. Warning that camping, fishing, hunting and trapping within the forests of the Adirondacks may be forbidden upon twenty-four hours notice in order to decrease the unusual danger of forest fires caused by extreme conditions of dry weather now prevailing there has been issued by conservation commissioner George 1. Pratt. It is only by the exercise of the greatest caution by the large -numberof persons now in the woods, says the commissioner, that serious forest fires can be prevented, and if it appears that they are not exercising this caution he will immediately recommend to the governor the issuance of a proclamation prohibiting use of the woods until the danger is past. Section 54 of the conservation law in relation to lands and forests provides that "Whenever, by reason of drought, the forests of the state are in danger of fires, which may be caused by hunters, fishermen, trappers or campers, the governor shall have the power to determine and shall determine and declare that such pursuits are contrary to the public interest, and shall have the further authority to forbid by proclamation any person or persons carrying on such pursuits in so much of the territory included within the fire towns as he deems the public interest requires." Commissioner lratt says that he will request the issuance of such a proclamation by the governor only as a last resort, but that forest fires must be prevented. Therefore, whether or not persons are to be permitted to continue camping in the woods during this period of drought depends entirely upon Licir own care with fires. The commission has issued simple rules for the prevention of forest fires. These rules require that burning matches, tobacco, cigars or cigarettes be extinguished, that only small camp fires be built and that they he thoroughly extinguished before they are left.
