Catoctin clarion., 1917-11-22
Big Forest Fires.
Flames Eat Up Leaves From
Thousands of Acres.

Beginning Thursday of last week a
series of forest fires swept over thous-
ands of acres of the Blue Ridge range OF
mountains, the same burning at places
until Monday night of this week.
The fire was first seen back OF the
ridge west of Catoctin Furnace Thursday
evening. During the night the wind
carried the blaze to the east side OF the
hill and gradually it made its way north
for several miles and spread over hun
dreds of acres belonging to the Catoctin
Furnace property.
Another fire had it's origin along the
Harman Gap road several miles west OF
Thurmont. A stiff breeze drove this fire
up the west side of Chimney Rock ridge
Friday morning and by noon flames had
reached the summit of the ridge and be-
gan coming down the hill toward Thur
mont. Quite a number of men from
town started at noon for the fire and
succeeded in almost stopping its progress.
State Forester Besley directed much of
the work, but evidently failed to keep
men on the job until the fire was out.
From the small patch of fire that was
left Friday evening near Chimney Rock
the fire spread, and Saturday morning,
just before daylight, the fire line eX-
tended from a point above Joseph
Gernands residence around the foot OF
the mountsin to the old Shpley observa-
tory. The homes of Mr.. Adam Kern,
Sanford Shaffer and Mrs. Martin Holtz
were in close proximity to the fire. On
this hill a fierce fire ragged all day Satur-
day and at one time threatened to de-
stroy the buildings on the Shipley pro-
perty, now in possession of Mr.. &. &.
Merritt Men experienced in fighting
mountain fires left Thurmont when Mr..
Merritt sent in an alarm and asked for
assistance, and their effective work soon
had the flames under control at that
place.
From the Sandy Spring and Observa-
tory section the fire continued to burn
during Saturday night and on Sunday
spread to the north to the property own
ed by st. Joseph's Society and around
the Brown and Kelbaugh homes, its
progress being stopped after it had burn
ed into Mrs. Emma X. Rouzers apple
orchard along the w. M. railroad, and
the road leading to the Society property.
On the south end of Chimney Rock
ridge heavy fire burned most OF the
day, and smoke was still raising in the
Harman Gap Monday.
State Forester Besley was working
both ends of the mountain Sunday and
with the large force of men succeeded in
putting stop to the flames along the
railroad gap.
Just what amount of damage was done
is difficult to estimate. The fire Travelled
fast and burned principally leaves and
roasted che estnuts left in the leaves this
fall, many quarts being picked up by
firemen. In some places the fire went
through valuable timber and in other
places very little timber of value was to
be found.
Early Tuesday morning report of fire
was brought to town. This blaze was on
the Harman property and on the ridge
to the southeast of Hunting creek. Mr..
A. P. Simon of the State Board of For
estry, who has been here for some time,
gathered number of men together and
went to the scene The fire was extin-
guished during the afternoon.
The shower of rain which fell Tuesday
night put an end to mountain fire for
some time.