Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-05
British Columbia Fire Costs
Millions Of Dollars.
Impossible 10 Estimate The
Loss Of Life and Property.
Flames Still Rage But Worst Is
Believed 10 Be Over.

Vancouver, Il. c., Aug. 4.-The ter
rib!y destructive forest fires which have
swept through the Crows Nest dis
trict of the Elk river valley in British
Columbia since last Saturday, de-
vastatins a vast stretch of territory,
destroying many lives and millions OF
dollars worth of property, wiping out
entire towns and rendering thousands
of persons homeless, are still raging,
out are now sweeping wild and
sparsely settled country, and it is be-
lieved the worst is over.
1t is impossible at this time to ar
rive at summary of the situation as
regards 10 loss of life and property
with even approximate correctness.
So widespread has been the destruction
and so scattered are the people who
lived in the burned area of more than
80 miles in length and three miles In
width that any estimate of the number
who met death in flames is nothing
more than guess work. The property
loss has been very great, but this, too,
is difficult to estimate correctly. A
conservative valuation would probably
place the amount between S. 000. 600 and
s., 600, 900.
Several thousand persons have been
rendered homeless, principally resi-
dents OF Fernie, which, according to
all accounts, is almost completely
wiped out, scarcely more than a score
of buildings being left where once q
prosperous town of 5000 inhabitants
stood. There has been suffering among
the homeless owing to lack of food and
shelter, but this has been alleviated or
partly relieved by prompt action of the
people of every city in British Column
bia as well as many of those on border
states, in sending money and supplies
to the burned districts. This aid has
been most generous and the tenn
porarily destitute people will be ade-
quately and promptly provided for.
A summary of the results of the fires
has been prepared here. which is be-
lieved to be conservative estimate as
to loss of life and property destroyed.
1t is as follows:
Town eff Fernie, about 500 inhabi-
tants; practically wiped out. loss Of 20
lives and s4,00O.0O0 or $4,000 600 in prop
erty. Insurance about so per cent.
Town of HOsmer, about 800 inhabi-
tants; partially burned, with loss Of
one life and so5O0OO in property. Three
hundred persons homeless.
Town of Michel, four persons re-
ported killed and property destroyed
in that vicinity estimated at $1,000. 900.
Details understandable owing to lack of
communication.
/" Town Of Sparwood, saw mill village:
two killed and large mills destroyed;
damage estimated at $250.000.
Damage to standing timber through
out the burned area estimated at from
81, 000, 900 to $4,000, 900.
Many pathetic stories of flight and
in many instances the death of unfor-
tunate settlers who were caught in the
swirl of flames as it swept through tho
great forests Of pine and fir are scoming
in from the various points with which
communication has been re-eStablished
Superintendent Hussey of the provin-
cial police has been sent by the govern
ment of British Columbia to the fire
swept region and he is now in charge
of the relief work in East Kootenai.
acting with the local authorities. The
Dominion authorities have offered to
send a detachment of Northwest
mounted police into the devastated re-
gion to preserve order. but thus far
the provincial authorities have had the
situation well in hand.