The San Francisco call., 1913-09-25
BIG FOREST I
FIRES ARE
DYING
Under Control After Destroy
ing Ranches and CauS-
ing Loss of Two Lives

Inc forest and field fires In Napa,
San Mateo. Santa Cruz, Placer and
Sonoma counties are practically out.
The Napa fire was the most disastrous
in the history of northern California
forest and field fires. In the area of
25 by 6 miles the only remaining
blazes are In the Conn and Cappel
valleys. Thirty-five farms were
burned out and two lives lost.
In explanation of the inability of
the United States forest service dis
trict men to respond to the numerous
calls for aid in the fires throughout
northern California this week, Coert
Du Bots, district forester. this morn
ing issued a statement The service,
he explains, is limited to fighting fires
in national forests and may not act
unless a situation arises so serious
as to be a public calamity threaten
ing life and property.
such was the case when the
United States troops and forest serv-
Ice co-operated to fight the Mount
Tamalpais fire, which threatened a
thickly populated residence district.
the statement reads. When the pro-
lection of rural property is beyond
the resources of the local residents,
the towns, or counties. the citizens
must look to the state government for
aid
NAPA FIRE NEARLY OUT
NAPA, Sept z5.-The Napa county
fire is practically under control. The
only blazes reported this morning
were in the upper Foss valley and the
adjoining Conn valley, near where
the fire originated four days ago.
charge of Sheriff Kelton. were sent
out last night to fight these flames.
and they report that unless the high
north wind prevalent during the first
two days of the fire comes up again
the fires will burn themselves out
Thirty-hve farms have been burned
out in Capell, Foss, Rector. Napa
Soda, Wooden, Wild Horse and Napa
NdttcIS, IWO lives nave OCSh vs.
Mrs. william Hutchinson and her 8
year old son at Foss valley-and a
territory rs miles long by an average
of five miles wide has been burned
over. Herman Kuhart. the 20 year
old farmer of Atlas Peak, missing for
two days, has been located. unhurt
Walter Lynch, a IA year old boy
living on the Hutchinson ranch, was
severely burned about the face and
hands, but will recover.
IT has been the most disastrous and
largest forest field fire known In
northern California. No estimate of
the loss is yet possible.
The underbrush is still smoldering
around Napa Soda Springs. Wooden
valley and CapelI valley. and fire
patrol will be maintained until the
last spark is out in the burned area.
BUTANO FIRE UNDER CONTROL
PESCADERO. Sept 25.-The Butano
district fire is under control and
danger past Several hundred men
under Game Warden Frank Smith
backfred/ and conquered the flames
last night. About 400 acres. including
two small houses, have been burned
over. Most serious damage was on
the Pinkham and Jackson ranches.
A quantity Of timber has been de-
stroyed. The fire reached point five
miles southeast Of this place.
APPROACHING GOLD HILL
GOLD HILL. Sept. 25.-The fire that
started late Monday near Auburn is
slowly burning toward this place.
Newcastle. which was threatened yes
terday. is beyond danger. the line of
flames eating northward about three
miles from there. The fire has pro-
gressed over II miles of territory.
mostly underbrush and chaparral. No
damage to any extent has been re-
ported from the ranches along the
line OF fire.
NEW FIRE AT WAGES CREEK
SACRAMENTO. Sept. 25.--A new
forest fire. burning over large terri
tory of timberland at Wages creek
near West Fork, Humboldt county.
has been reported by Deputy State
Forester Johnston of Humboldt
county. It is believed that this fire
was started by fncendiaries