The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-28
Flames Reported as Absolutely
Beyond Human Control in the
Occur d'Alene District.
ONLY RAIN CAN SAVE
MUCH VALUABLE TIMBER
Armies of Men Are Exhausting
Every Energy in Futile
Fight.

MISSOULA, Mont, july 27.-Fores-
ter w. B. Greedy of field district No. l.,
with headquarters in Missoula, returned
today from his trip through the north
ern part of Montana and Idaho with
Secretary Of Agriculture James A. Will
son and brought with him much new
information of the forest fire conditions
In the territory through which he has
travelled. In an interview this morn
ing Forester Greedy said that within the
Occur d'Alene forest, comprising terri
tory in northwestern Montana and Ida
ho, there were forty Beperate large fires
now burning and that an army Of moro
than 1000 men were employed in fight
ing the flames.
Today not single one of these forty
fires has been reported as under control
and the force of men will be increased
as fast as possible until some kind Of
control can be maintained and good
soaking rain comes to the aid of the
fighters.
Only Rain Can Save.
"A heavy rain," said Mr.. Greely,
His absolutely the only thing which will
now fully extinguish these fires. While
the fighters are doing much good and
have saved countless acres of fne tim
Der from being burned already, still
they are unable to cope with the chang
ing winds and increasing number of
fires.
The whole work has been carried on
with as much system as has been pos
sible and among the numerous crews en-
ploved there has been work accom-
plished that may well be labeled heroic.
The extent OF the fires and the hard
INl .,@a axr1t
we'll be appreciated except by making a
personal trip into the districts. A good
soaking rain right now would be worth
much more than the ordinary million dol
lar kind. 1t will probably he necessary to
maintain this big force OF 1000 men in the
field or in places available at short notice
until the hot weather is broken and dam
gers of fire outbreaks have passed for the
season.
Ranger McGregor. who Is in charge of
the fighters at the Nine Mile fire, asked
today for another crew OF fifteen men In
addition to twenty-five sent last evening
by the Western Lumber company.
More Help Needed.
This fire Is spreading fast. last nights
winds turning the blaze into new territory.
A request for additional men was also re-
ceived from Ranger Morgan, who is at the
Belmont creek fire. up the Big Blackfoot
valley Supervisor Kinney of the Missoula
forest, who is at Seeley lake. reported to-
day that two sections of virgin timber had
been laid waste by the Montana Clear
water fire, and that the high winds last
night had famed It into flendish wall OF
flame. The Big Blackfoot Lumber COM
pany Is keeping forty men still engaged in
hghtlng their fire northeast Of Clinton, but
have failed to get It under control 1t Is
feared that nothing can stop II now from
running into the Camas prairie country,
and there is also danger OF its reaching
Potomac.
Assistant Supervisor Spaldlng, who is
con the job" at the fire in Deadman's
gulch, west and in plain sight OF this city.
asked again today for more men. as the
wind, which changed its course last night,
Is driving the flames In a new direction,
A rancher at the mouth OF Hayes creek
was forced To move out this morning,
and 1t is believed the improvements can
not be saved. Large crowds from Missou-
la drove out near this fire today in auto
mobiles and the scene presented at night
Is magnificent
No new reports from fires in other dis
tricts had been received by the forest SER
vice here today.