New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-14
FOREST FIRES ALARM
War Department Rushing Troops
to Points of Danger.
JOINT PLAN OF ACTION
General Wood Promises All
Available Soldiers-Situation
Serious in Northwest.

Washington, Aug 13.-Forest fires in the
Northwest, threatening destruction of hu-
man life and millions of dollars worth of
property, have alarmed officials of the In
terror Department and the Forest Service
In response TO appeals fro mthe fire zones,
United States soldiers are being rushed to
the scenes to assist in fighting the flames
The soldiers have been sent to the Co,ur
d'lAlene, Idaho: Lewis and Clark. Mont :;
Wallowa, Mont. and CoIville, Wash. ma
tional forests; the Flathead Indian reserva-
ton and the Glacier National Park, in
Montana The troops have been spread
ard Wood, chief Of staff OF the army has
informed the Interior Department and For
est Service officials that the assistance of
the army will be given in meeting the emer-
gency TO the limit OF the number of soldiers
available if necessary.
Official reports OF the situation which
have been received here from field agents
are meagre. consisting chiefly OF a general
statement of the conditions on which ap-
peals for assistance of the soldiers are
based This is regarded here as significant
OF the seriousness Of the situation
The War Department has been bonbarded
with requests for troops to fight fires in
practically the same or adjacent territory
by both the Interior Department and the
Forest Service. In response to the request
OF General Wood. the two services have
agreed on a plan for the distribution of the
soldiers and for joint action in the future
Wright, Washington, have been ordered to
Wallace, Ida, and one company to Kalis
pell, Mont The two companies now on the
way to Glacier Park will be divided and one
will be sent to Kalispell, giving that section
two companies. The War Department now
has troops ell around the fire belt in West
ern Montana and Northern Idaho, either at
mobilization camps or at home posts.
Spokane, Wash, Aug L.-Fierce forest
fires raging in the Ceur d'Alene region
in Idaho. especially near Wallace, Murray
and Mullan, are taxing the fighting re-
sources Of hundreds Of men almost beyond
endurance, and the task of subduing the
flames is apparently hopeless Citizens OF
the threatened towns are in a wild state of
panic. The dense smoke which envelopes
them causes intense suffering. Men and
women are praying for rain, and that there
may be no change OF wind
4 heavy pail Of smoke hangs over the
country for miles. Heated ernbers are
falling everywhere a change of wind from
east 10 west would bring the fiery furnace
TO the top of the hills overlooking Wallace.
There the fierce flames would create a heat
in which frame buildings would burn like
finder in spite Of all precautions
\ supply train of thirty-five packs, with
q relay OF thirty-1ve fighters. from Iron
Mountain TO Independence Creek, at the
head OF ST Joseph, under the direction of
Roscoe Hales, Of the Forestry Bureau, is
whereabouts unknown"
The fire fighters. worn out by weeks of
exertion, find that all their efforts have
been OF little avail. and look for no perma-
nent relief until q heavy rainfall stops the
fires.