Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-10-06
A TERRIFIC FIRE.
All Crescenta Canada I'm a Great
Blaze.

11GZCes
A writer in the Pasadena Star of recent
date gives the following graphic descrip.
ton of a great fire in the Crescenta
Canada, which seems to have swept over
nearly the whole valley:
The account of the fire in La Crescenta,
as given by correspondent in your issue
of the 9th, was somewhat erroneous.
As an eyewitness of the fire from first 10
last, please permit me to make few
corrections. The fire did not extend
over the whole valley as stated. It did
not reach verdugo pass at all, but was
confined entirely to the western portion
of the valley. It started about noon a
little south of DIR. Bellan's place, which
is midway between the north and
south mountains and in the
western part of the valley. AS
there was 8 strong south west wind blow
ing at the time, it spread rapidly to the
north and west, jumping Michigan ave-
nue. about l O'Clock. At 2 O'Clock 1t was
an immense fire, extending from the
western extremity OF the south to cor
responding extremity Of the north noun
tains, and sweeping rapidly westward, so
that it was continuous fire rushing over
the divide between La Crescenta and
Monte Vista, and the largest fire ever
known in this vicinity for several years.
Mr.. A. Thralls, of Pasadena, who has for
some time been hauling wood from
Crescenta, had started for home with a
load, when he perceived that the FIRE
had cut him off from the avenue, his
usual way OF egress. He then tried to
gain the road leading to Los Angeles.
when the fire swept between him and
that, cutting him off in that direction,
and encroaching so closely upon him at
last he was obliged to hastily unhitch
his horses from the wagon, mount one,
and dash ahead, with the flames then
not more than twenty feet from him, and
sweeping on with almost lightning
rapidity. He had not even time to reach
up and get his coat and vest, which we're
on the seat, but fed precipitately.
1t was fearful race for life, the flames
pursuing him closely for mile, when he
reached cleared place, where he was at
last safe. Had it not been for that, he
and his horses must surely have per.
ished in the hungry flames. His wagon
and all the contents were entirely con-
sumed, but the harness was saved, as
that was on the horses. 1t was heavy
loss for one so lily prepared to meet it,
as well as a narrow escape with life.
He was the heaviest and almost the
only loser by the fire, so far as known.
Mr.. Blanchard and his men fought the
fire with "back. fire." thus saving his
premises from devastation, as he was at
the foot Of the north mountain and the
flames were rushing directly toward him,
and with such Roadway and strong
wind behind them nothing else could
have saved his place.
Most of the fire in the valley died down
toward sunset, but the north mountain
breeze springing up about O'Clock
famed the remaining embers into life at
the foot of the south Cor Santa Maria
Francisca) mountains, near the "sisters
canyon" when they rapidly spread up
the mountain side, burning the trees in
the ravines and blazing fifty or sixty feet
in the air, with dense column of smoke.
The smoke and flames poured between
the sun and us, flooding the whole val
Icy with red light. For two or three
hours there was the grandest of spectac.
ular scenes for the residents of our valley,
and it claimed the attention of all. In
the deepest ravine it was a literal fiery
furnace, and the deep roaring and crack.
ling of the trees as the flames leaped high
in the air, could be distinctly beard for
miles. And you must have seen the
vast column of smoke in Pasadena.