(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



Museums 101: Forest fires and communication (photo diary) [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags']

Date: 2022-08-22

Among the concerns were forest fire prevention (85% of the fires are human-caused), early detection (including the construction of fire lookouts), and developing communications systems from the lookouts and fire lines to headquarters.

Signal Flags

Signal flags were used to communicate across large differences. This form of communication is particularly useful in terrain where electronic communication is difficult. Use of flags is particularly effective when the signaler is on high ground.

The best-known flag signaling system is semaphore with which there are specific gestures of each letter which allows the message to be written visually. Semaphore can also be used at night by using small lanterns instead of flags.

Shown above are semaphore signal flags.

The WigWag system uses a single large flag to spell out messages in Morse code.

According to the display:

“The larger flag makes signals visible across a greater distance, although the messages take much longer to spell out than in semaphore.”

Telegraph

Telegraph communication systems were developed during the nineteenth century and were widely used. With regard to the use of telegraphs by the Forest Service in fighting forest fires, the display states:

“In the early days of Forest Service communications, telegraphs had the largest range and the most reliable equipment. The machines were simple to use and easy to carry, although operators had to be specially trained.”

According to the display:

“Telegraphs required both sender and receiver to be connected by wires. This made it impractical, if not impossible, to bring them into the back country. Forest Service rangers and fire lookouts also often only worked for one or two seasons, which meant that new operators had to be trained frequently.”

Field Service Buzzers

One of the communication experiments conducted by the Forest Service involved field service buzzers. According to the display:

“Service buzzers combined telephones and telegraphs into a single machine. They were equipped with both telephone receivers and Morse code keys, and could be hooked up to either type of wire. If the wires were cut, the buzzer’s own strong current carried the message across the gap to the cut ends.”

Shown above is Service Buzzer Model 1914, 1918, US Army Signal Corps. Manufactured by Stromberg-Carlson.

In military use, wires could be laid out on the ground instead of in trees or on polls. This would make it easier to temporarily connect fire camps with headquarters or lookouts. The field demonstration of the buzzers was not particularly successful and the use of field service buzzers were not used.

Dynamite

Another interesting method of communicating across large distances involved the use of dynamite. According to the display:

“Forest Service rangers used timed explosions of differing strengths to signal both the presence and the rough location of a fire. “

According to the display:

“Using dynamite to communicate was both imprecise and dangerous, particularly at the height of fire season. Dynamite was phased out as more reliable communication methods became possible.”

Heliographs

Heliographs are an ancient form of long-distance communication which uses mirrors to reflect the sun. In modern applications, heliographs use a shutter to block and unblock the sun allowing the operator to communicate with Morse code. According to the display:

“Forest Service Heliographs were specially designed for the back country. They weighed 4.5 pounds, and required only one tripod. On sunny days, the signal could be seen for 40 miles with the naked eye, and up to 90 miles with a looking glass.”

The primary limitation for the heliograph is that it required sunlight which makes it unusable at night, on cloudy days, and on smokey days.

Messenger Pigeons

Another interesting attempt in improving communications from the backcountry involved the use of messenger pigeons. According to the display:

“The Forest Service used pigeons to send messages across difficult or hazardous terrain. Experiments began in 1919, when pigeons were used in Oregon to send message from the fire lines back to headquarters. Encouraged by their success, the Forest Service arranged for more pigeons and equipment to be sent into the backcountry.”

One of the drawbacks to using messenger pigeons is that the birds only recognize one location as their home, so they can’t be used for two-way communication.

Posters

More museum exhibit photo tours

Museums 101: Forest Service radios (photo diary)

Museums 101: Forest fire lookouts (photo diary)

Museums 101: Missoula Smokejumpers Visitor Center (Photo Diary)

Museums 101: Logging (Photo Diary)

Museums 101: Forest Fires in North Idaho (photo diary)

Museums 101: The Timber Industry on the Oregon Coast (Photo Diary)

Museums 201: Forest fire lookouts (photo diary)

Museums 201: The timber industry (photo diary)

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/8/22/2117824/-Museums-101-Forest-fires-and-communication-photo-diary

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/