When properly used by experienced persons, back-fires are very effectual.

In inexperienced hands they are dangerous, as the wind may change suddenly or they may be lighted too soon.

In such cases they often become as great a menace as the main fire.

Another practical system of fighting fires is to make fire lines around the burning area.

These fire lines or lanes as they are sometimes called, are stretches of land from which all trees and shrubs have been removed.