As soon as smoke is spotted, the location of it’s
origin is determined by a "fir3finder". The "fire-
finder” is a fixed map of the Forest and surround
ing areas, rimmed by a movable metal rim,
marked off in degrees. The point of the smoke’s
origin is lined up in the rim’s sights, and may then
be located on the map beneath the metal tape
which is stretched between the two sights.
Above left: After noting the time of the spotting,
Brown phones in the fire report to the Ranger
Station. He gives the location in degrees, the
number read from the rim of the firefinder.
Above right: Should the phone system fail, the
short-wave radio is used. Weather reports are
received via radio six days a week from the U. S.
Weather Bureau in Asheville. Communication be
tween tower and firefighting crews are by radio.
Left: A "reading” from another tower enables
Brown to "cross out” a fire, thus pinpointing it.
Strings are stretched along the lines of sighting
of the two towers. Location of the fire will be
shown on the map ivhere strings cross.