As the period of greatest fire hazard was during the middle of the day, it was agreed that the patrols should start out at nine o’clock each morning and land at the sub-base about eleven, and taking off again about one o’clock, be back home at about three.
“How will you send in the information that you get?” asked Cecil.
“By radio,” replied Smith. “I also have a suggestion on that. I am bringing up several extra sets. Why can’t you hire some amateurs and have them run sets in each forest? In that way the Forest Supervisor would get the fire data as soon as it was sent. We would save a lot of time if we did.”
“An excellent idea,” said Cecil. “We will do it. When will your sets be available?”
“As soon as the truck train gets in,” replied Smith. “Probably the day after tomorrow.”
“What data will be in the message?” asked Cecil.
“We might just as well fix up a code now as any time,” said Smith. “We will have a standard sequence for all messages. All data to be in code if possible. KA starting the message would be the attention call. Then VAI or the call letters of the ground station being called. FFF signal that a fire was discovered. NF or OF meaning a new or old fire. T followed by the number of the township. R followed by the range number. A followed by the estimated size of the fire in acres. W followed by the estimated strength of the wind in miles an hour, and abbreviation of direction, as N for north or SE for southeast. PA followed by the number of the patrol, and finally AR, meaning the end of the message. How does that suit you? That is my Radio Officers’ idea. Liggett gets the credit for that if it is accepted. A complete message would be received KA KA KA VAI VAI VAI FFF NF T26 R7 A300 W15 NW PA3 AR AR AR. Then station VAI would know that a new fire in Township 26, Range 7, burning over 300 acres. The wind was 15 miles an hour from the northwest and Patrol Number 3 was reporting it.”
“Its all right for us,” said Cecil. “It gives us all the information that we need.”
“The patrols will send in messages every five minutes regardless of the number of fires that they discover,” said Smith. “That will enable us to keep track of their whereabouts. I don’t want any planes landing in the timber and not knowing approximately where they are.”
“I also suggest that the Liaison Officer should send in a complete report of all fires discovered by telephone as soon as the plane has landed,” said Cecil. “I will have additional liaison officers at Medford and at Portland.”