Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-12
FOOTHILL FIRE
SWEEPS ONWARD
BREAKS OUT MORE FIERCELY
THAN EVER 8
VILLAGES AND RANCHES NOW IN
IMMINENT PERIL
Rangers and Volunteers Engaged In
Desperate Struggle, Flames Being
Plainly Discernibe from
Los Angeles

The great brush fire which started
Thursday at La Crescenta, in the Sierra
Madre foothills, sweeping over or
chards and farms and destroying sew
eral homes in its progress, yesterday
continued its course up the mountain
and into the valley of the Tejunga, on
the other side. While at one time 1t
was thought the fire was under con-
troll, II was reported at a late hour
last night that 1t was blazing more
fiercely than ever and had spread over
q great area, making it necessary foe
the fire fighters to divide their forces.
Ii the fire is not controlled many
small villages and isolated ranches will
be threatened with destruction, and the
water supply of such towns at La
Crescenta and La Canada damaged.
Great difficulty was experienced last
night by the rangers and volunteer
firemen in their efforts to check the
course of the flames, as the brush in
the canyons is in many places ex-
tremely dense and affords fine fuel for
the fire, while fighting the flames on
the mountain side at night far away
from water presented obstacles that
even to the rangers, practiced as they
are in such work, were all but insur-
Lines Of rangers and citizens drafted
from the neighboring villages took their
stands at the top Of the mountain ridge
when 1t was found that the fire could
not be checked in its upward course.
Late at night they were still on the
top of the range, endeavoring to battle
the flames in their descent on the
Tejunga valley. As the fire spread
into the canyons the force had to be
divided, and many of the men who had
volunteered earlier in the day became
exhausted and went back to their
homes. The fighting force was reduced
to about fifty men as the flames grad
ually ate their way to the summit of
the ridge. The rangers alone stuck to
the heart-breaking task Of beating out
the flames with sacks and cutting
away the underbrush to form barri-
cades, only to see them crossed as
gust of wind swept up the slope.
Entire Force at Work
Forest Supervisor Charlton left his
office in the Pacific Electric>>building
at the first report of the fire and took
with him the entire office force to
direct and aid in the fight. All the
rangers from nearby stations were
called in to take part in sHbduing one
of the most stubborn fires that has
broken out in the neighobrhood Of Los
for a long time past.
The fire started on the ranch of Rev.
S. L. Ward of Glendale, who was
burning brush, which got beyond his
control. Mr.. Ward said yesterday that
he had been clearing his ten-acre tract
at La Crescenta and obtained per-
NIT to burn the brush. "There was
ranger present when We started the
fire." said Mr.. Ward. NY son and /
began in rather dangerous corner,
but there was little wind and we had
no idea that we could not keep it
under control. Then a little before
noon Thursday the wind rose and be-
fore we realized it we were fighting
fire on all sides. The ranger helped
us. and once we thought we had 1t
under control, but 1t broke out afresh
and swept up the mountain. l am sin
cerely sorry for the damage caused"
The fire was plainly visible from
where a great cloud of yell
low smoke hanging in the west told
Of the immense tract that was being
burned over. AS the sun sank into
the yellow cloud as night came on
dull red glare was visible.
The progress of the fire was watched
from some of the high buildings in
Los Angeles. William Mulholland.
of the Los Angeles
water company from his offices in the
Central building. caught glimpses of
The fire miles away. IF it is only
orush," he said. "there is not much
,ause for alarm as regards the water
sheds. But where the brush has piled
up as it does in some canyons, and thiA
ignited, then a forest fire be-
comes truly serious, and the fire
breaks, which in many cases are mere
y trails, would never stop 1t with the
wind blowing"
At a late hour last night thousands
n Los Angeles were out watching the
lanes, which could be seen distinctly
Ind were obviously making consider
lble Roadway.
No estimate Of the damage wrought |
)y the fire is yet obtainable.