The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-08-06
FOREST FIRE STARTS
ON OFFICIALS RANCH

A coincidence Of last Thursdays for
est FIRE on the Neal creek canyon,
which started near the Hicks sawmill,
was that il caught on the place Of 7.
II. Sherrsrd, state forest supervisor.
The fire swept over an area Of about 80
acres. However, no serious damage
was caused. The high wind Of the af-
ternoon made it difficult to fight. Sew
eral times the buildings on the Sher-
rard place were endangered.
The city fire alarm sounded shortly
after the lunch hour. Thinking that
fire had started in the city the usual
large crowd rushed to the city hall,
where the fire apparatus is kept. They
we're told by Mayor Reed and G. N:
Ravlin, secretary of the Commercial
club, TO pile into a train of automobiles
awaiting them, and we're rushed to the
scene of the fire. Basket of sandwiches
we're carried along for those who had
been working since morning and who
were worn out. Control OF the lire was
gained by Thursday night.
A bad forest fire, menacing timber OF
the Oregon Lumber Co., burned over
small area above Dee last week.
In 80 minutes after the Neal creek
alarm had been sounded here last
Thursday. the bell rang again, calling
the Volunteer fire department to a
brush.and grass fire west of the city in
the vicinity Of the old Country Club
Inn. 1t was thought the fire was out
in the late afternoon, but the high
wind famed it to fame in the night,
and residents, whose homes adjoin the
grass covered tract, we're kept busy
protecting their roofs from the flying
brands. Patches were burned in sew
eral roofs.
On Friday evening local people could
see the reflection of forest fire burn
ing east of White Salmon on the edge
of the Columbia gorge.
Several hundred forest fires success
fully handled with practically no loss
of green timber is the Pacific north
west record for the driest July since
1910, according to bulletins received
from a number of states by the West
ern Forestry & Conservation Ass0cia-
tion. Fires for the most part have
been in old slashings or burns, and
while filling the country with smoke
and in places severly taxing the patrol
forces, prompt action has robbed them
of the usual toll of green timber or
logging equipment. The sSwoods are
now extremely dry, and although the
full patrol force is on duty, the utmost
vigilance will have to be exercised to
prevent disastrous fires. The worst of
the fire season is still to be passed
through. e. @MAa
Washington had rs fires during July,
nearly all of them being slashing fires.
A few logs we're burned as well as
some camp equipment, and the i'm.
provements of one settler. Accurate
| figures on losses are not available, but
the amount is small taking into account
the number of fires occurring. Donkey
engines, locomotives, berry pickers,
and lightning are given as the causes
of fires. About 100 men are on patrol
duty for the Washington Forest Fire
Association, while the State Fire War
den has on some 70 men.
Idaho in common with other states,
has experienced high temperatures anc
practically no rain during July. A
number of fires have started, but
prompt discovery has practically pre-
vented loss. A small amount of greer
timber has been fire killed. Campers,
lightning and brush burning are re-
sponsible for nearly all fires which
have occurred in the state. The full
patrol force is on duty.
Montana has experienced no severe
fires. The State and Forest Service
are cooperating in an effort properly t
cover the timbered sections adjacen
to the national forests.
Oregon reports about 100 fires for thu
month, the most severe ones being il
old slashings. An inconsiderabl,
amount of green timber has been fir
killed. The state forester has 80 mel
on patrol paid by State and Weeks Law
funds and private owners are employ
ing 800 wardens. Telephone servic,
which has been greatly improved tn,
past year is proving a marked factor il
protection work. High winds, no
weather and practically no precipita
ton have put the woods in dangerou
condition.
Reports from portions of Calif0rni
indicate more favorable conditions thai
last season, while contrary is true else
where in the northwest.
Throughout the northwest the pre-
parations made early in the season t
meet a bad year are proving eXtremel
helpful. Never before has such clos
working cooperation existed bewee
| the government, states and private pa
trolls and to this can be largely attrib
uted the success of the work up to tn
present time. From now on hunter
and campers will be going into tn
mountains, and their cooperation i
needed to prevent fires. Loggers, roa
builders and ranchers should be doubl
careful with fire. Only through sue
care will serious fires be averted.