Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-07-26
CANYON FIRES
MADLy FOUGHT
Forest Service and Utah Light
Employees Conquer Flames
In Cottonwood.
POWER HOUSE IN JEOPARDY
Rangers say Fire Was started 10y
Campers, Who VIII he Arrested
Aud Tried By Government.

The fierce brush fires which have
been raging in the mouth Of Big COT
tonwood canyon for the last three days
we've finally got under control this
morning, by the combined efforts OF the
forest service people and the employees
OF lhe Utah Light * Railway COM
pany. The only way such a fire can
be conquered is by trenrhing whore
there Is only grass. and cutting the
brush away where there are growths
90 brush, so that the names can find
nothing to feed on
The fire was probably the most ex-
tensive that ever ragged I'm the canyon,
extending from the mouth clear up to
within a short distance Of the upper
power house, threatening the nume Of
the Light 4 Railway company so that
:. was feared for some little time that
Il would be badly damaged, II not
destroyed for some distance. Had II
burned. tho osCa ping water would OF
course have extinguished the fires be-
low II, but at the same time would
have washed out the road. The con-
fagration was a sight 10 behold, as the
entire north side Of the canyon was
burning. sending enormous volumes OF
smoke up into the air. the cracking
and roaring of the flames being heard
for long way Flaming bits OF wood
were carried high and away for some
distance, 80 that the livelest appre-
tensions were felt for the south side OF
the canyon, and made the fire fighters
work the harder
BUTLERVILLE SMOKED OUT,
The wind blew the dense smoke down
the canyon out over the ButlerVillg
mesa, where II finally BECAME so thick
that It was difficult 10 see across th1
road, and the farm houses were shut
out OF view from one another. Breath
ing was n serious question, and tesl-
dents say that had the smoke come only
a little faster and heavier, the entire
village would have had to be abandon
ed for the time being AS II was. thu
smoke extended four miles westward
toward Midyale. The sight by night
was one OF grandeur. reminding old
timers OF the prairie fires that used to
rage years ago But for the well d.
rected efforts OF the forest rangers and
the electric light people, the confiagra
tion would have extended to the south
side OF the canyon, and not only done
an immense amount Of damage to prop
erty. but completely blocked travel in
and out OF the canyon. Salt Lake par
ties who had been spending the sabbath
at Maxheld's ranch experienced great
difficulty in getting out that evening
IL was necessary TO send out scouts
ahead Of the teams before II was con-
sidered safe to make any progress out
ward; and they did not reach Murray
until IL pm.
CAMPERS RESPONSIBLE
The rangers say the fire was started
by campers, and they know the guilty
parties who will be arrested. The pen |
atty for starting a brush fire on a |
reservation. wllfuly is three years IN /
l.eavenworth and a fine OF $4,000. For |
carelessly setting fire, the penalty Is /
81 900 fine and one year imprisonment |
Supervisor clark OF the forest service /
said this morning, that every effort |
would be made to bring the guilty par
ties to Justice. In fact he Is particu-
larly DESTROYS OF making an example OF
the offenders I'm this instance, i'm order
that others may be deferred from set
ting further fires. There Is altogether |
too much Of this done: In fact most OF |
the brush fires are claimed to be the re,
suit Of either gross carelessness on tho
part Of camping parties. or done DELHI
arately by persons wishing 10 see o
blaze.