The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-27
Continued from Page Ono.

ests are, however, still without such
communication, and it is chiefly the fires
IN such areas which have cnused the
present disaster in Idaho and Montana.
The most serious and disastrous fires
have occurred in localities whose mac
cessibility and lack of communication
made it impossible 20 rench them quick
ly with adequate fire fighting crews
"'1n spite of all the difficulties of the
situation the fire fighters last week had
succeeded in bringing nearly all the fires
under control with fire lines surround
ing them. On Saturday night, August
90. Il terrific hurricane arose, tanning
the smoldering fires into life. Sparks
were blown over the fire lines, new
fires sprang up, and what had been dy
ing fires became great CONGREGATIONS,
high winds lasted, In several places
the flames swept upon the heads of fire
lighters and overcame them before they
could escape. Before these fires could
be controlled, several small towns were
burned and others were saved only by
desperate fighting,
Storms Helped Much
"The wind died down Sunday. the 81
and rain and snow fell IN certain sec
tions of Montana and Idaho on Tues
day, enabling the renewal of the fight
against the fires. Rescue parties were
at once sent out by the forest service
to save settlers and fire fighters in
danger and those injured by the fires,
who were killed. Everyone united in
the work of rescue and relief Of the
sufferers
"The war department furnished
troops for help III rescue and fire fight
ing. The citizens in MIssoula and other
cities and towns received the refugees
and gave aid with open-handed gen
erosity. Since the big fires of Satur-
day night and Sunday the FIRE fighting
has been reorganized and already many
fires have been brought under control
Several large fires which were spread
by the hurricane are still burning in
the inaccessible districts, but they have
been checked at points where any COM
were in danger. AS rapidly as
possible new crews are being organized
to check the remaining fires. The sltua-
tion is still critical but rapid headway
is being made.
Property Loss Unknown.
"It is believed that altogether be-
tween eighty and ninety men employed
by the forest service in fighting fires
have been killed The rescue parties
have not yet all reported, so final
statement cannot be made. IT is i'm
possible as yet to estimate just how
much property was destroyed 1t will
require considerable time TO examine
the forests to ascertain what area was
burned and how much timber was killed,
"The great damage this year must
he attributed first TO the exceptional
drought and almost continuous high dry
winds. | consider that the local forest
officers and those co operating with
them have done remarkable work to
hold the fires down even to the present
damage, considering the difficulties under
which they had to work The work of
fire fighting has been spIendidly organ
jzed. The men on the fighting Line have
shown spirit and courage IN their at
tempt to save life and property that
makes one proud of them. The spirit
Of cooperation in this emergency, by
the state, the railroads, lumbermen and
all others interested has been splendid.
"The lesson of these fires has been
thar need for adequate fire protection
IS complete system of roads and trails
ready transportation through
out the forests and telegraph lines for
quick communication. II is the system
started by the forest service; but this
year s experience shows the urgency of
rapidly carrying the work to compile
tion, and the need of the necessary
funds for it. With an adequate system
Of roads, trails and telephone lines the
forests can be successfully patrolled
and protected -