Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1913-05-03
TWO MORE FOREST FIRES
One North Of Strickland's Place South Of
Custer, and the Other Near
Hill City.

On April 10th two forest fires broke
out shortly after the noon hour and
burned fiercely for six or seven hours.
One of the fires originated from an old
saw dust pile that was ON fire just north
of Strickland's place, and as there was
an area Of timber which had been cut
over and much slashing left near by,
this fire rapidly gained headway, and it
was impossible for the forest officers
and about 100 men who were fighting
the fire to gain any control over it until
about 6 p. m. whom the wind went
down. An area of about 800 acres was
burned and much valuable timber de-
stroyed. Isaac Withrow's ranch was
saved only by the greatest effort on the
part Of the fire fighters. A straw stack
on his place was burned, and many
times sparks from the FIRE which came
within one hundred yards of his place
set fires Immediately around the build.
ings.
The other fire was also caused from
an old saw dust pile which has been on
fire for some little time. A spark from
the burning saw dust was communicated
to high grass aud infammable material
which was short distance from the saw
dust pile. This fire started about one
mile south of Hill City near the Gordon
ranch and burned north on the cast side
of the railroad track until after it passed
north Of the town of Hill City. For a
time many Of the residents of Hill City
and the forest officers thought it would
be absolutely impossible to save the
town, as burning embers and live Goals
were blown as far as one-fourth Of q
mile and started small fires near to the
buildings Of the town. Fortunately,
however, only one ranch house with
the barns and other buildings was de-
stroyed. These were owned by Mr..
Dan Smith who lives just north of Hill
City. During the afternoon of the Goth
the fire fighters devoted all Of their at
tention to saving the buildings in Hill
City rather than making any effort to
check the progress of the fire which was
running in the timber. Men we're sta
toned on the hills around the town to
watch for burning Goals and smbsrs
which started fires at various points.
After the fire had passed Hill City, the
organized crew of fire fighters from Hill
City and Keystone, about 100 in mum.
Der, then began work in checking the
fire and were able to put it under con-
troll before the morning of April 30th.
With the very large amount ofdry
vegetation which exists throughout the
forest we have serious doubts whether
or not the Forest service with tho aid
of all of the settlers within the Black
Hills can prevent very large amount
of valuable timber being destroyed as
we'll as homes and perhaps towns if
something cannot be done to prevent
fires from starting. Every one should
be alert on this question at this time
and do all in their power to prevent
any forest fire getting started. No
one should delay moment in notifying
his neighbors and sending word to the
Forest officers if they notice fire
which has started or observe anything,
such as burning saw dust piles, straw
stacks or unextinguished camp fires,
which may cause q fire to start.