The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-25
Camp Of Fighters Destroyed
and Flames Go Booming
Toward River.
LOLO CREW CUT OFF
FROM SUPPLY BASE
COnflagration Breaks Away
and 300 Men Shut Off
From Food.

Famed to sudden fury by strong
Winds IA forest fire near Salmon lake
in the ~Blackfoot valley north of Mis-
sonla jumped across recently com
pleted fire lines yesterday afternoon,
licked up the camps of so fire fight
crs and gave the men barely time to
get away alive. Tonight it is spread
ing ominously and threatens to jump
the Clearwater river. beyond which lies
q wide eXpanse of dry, tracklcss forest
in which it would be almost uncontrol-
liable. 1t may, officials believe. also
spread east to Woodwork and Fish
lake.
Meanwhile the big fire near I.olo
Hot Springs, once reported under con-
troll, suddenly shifted. broke over lines
and cut 800 men off from their base
of supplies.
Headquarters Hard Pressed.
Apprehension and the tense look OF
fighters who are engaged in q dcs-
reratc conflict. written on the faces
of the local forestry officials as they
.discuHsed the fire situation. told. the
story OF the fierce struggle against
the flames. An impcnetrable haze,
SURPRISING that OF any before this sea
son. obscurcd the mountains yestcr-
day. Toward evening the sun seemed
supported by the thick, sanguine haze
and when the crescent moon appeared
it looked like a glowing jewel behind
tho smoke. telling an awcsomc tale Of
burning forests.
lo!o Battle Lost.
The report of Il battle lost comes
from the Lolo fire. In the opinion of
officials at the district office here. the
blaze is in the worst shape yet. Some
lines were lost yesterday and the fire
burned across trails. cutting the men
off from their base of supplies. A
crew OF 80 men was sent to the scene
yesterday, making a total Of 800 en-
gagged In the fight against this fire.
crew has been sent to Alberton and
I.othrop TO go up Petty creek to at
tack the blaze from tho other side. Al
though there appears to be no imme
,liate danger tos Lolo, some apprehcn-
sion is felt and the danger to the
town is not purely imaginary. The
fire at Woodman, however, is prac-
ticalIy controlled.
Fires High in Mountains.
a number of new fire outbreaks in
the high regions have been reported;
three in the Bitter Root district, one
at tho head of Overwhich creek, one
on the cast fork of the Bitter Root
and one at head of Burnt Fork. The
local men stationed in the various re-
gions ara handling the fires.
Flathead Fire Bad.
The Flathead fire has assumed Sc
rious proportions and the difficulty
which confronts the forcstcrs in fight =
ing this fire is that of getting men and
supplies near enough to the scene of
action. new fire, at the head of
Gordon creek was reported yesterday.
In all, 800 men are fighting the Flat :
head fires.
The Selway and other fires are re-
ported TO be no worse and ID is cx-
rccted that with a fair show from the
weather, the forcsters will he able to
hold their ground in these districts.
Fighters to Rattlesnake.
Logging Engineer J. ". Girard and
Ranger Laybourne went up the Rattle
snake yesterday in charge of SO men
10 work on the Gold creek IRE east Ol
Missoula, making n total of Sc men
fighting that blaze.
Late last evening a report came tC
the district office of an outbreak al
Augusta on the south fork of the
White river. but of which no details
had been reported.
A trench has been established
around the 1varO fire and the pros
poets Of holding it seem fair.
Two. Thousand in Field.
An army of 1000 fire fighters arr
In the field battling with the blazes /,
-district No. l. but according to Distric
Forester II. II. Rutledge the fires, a.
serious AS they are. are burning owe
surprisingly small acreage. which h
does not believe would exceed $1,000
acres.