The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-08-20
.|C|ClE RIDGE I'M.
LARGEST THIS YtAn
IN NORTHWEST
$1,000 TO $4,000 ACRES ALREADY
BURNED ONER-IMPOSSIBLE
TO CONTROL ON STEEP NOUN
TAIN SIDES.

The fire on the Icicle Ridge anG
River has developed into the greatest
confagration so far reported to the
Forest Service in the whole North
west. Caused by lightning Aug. s
and gaining considerable headway be.
fore the men could get to it, it has
gradually spread, defeating all at
tempts to put it under control.
AS soon as reported Ranger Bren-
der of this station began preparations
to control it. He got together "a
crew of several men and taking pro
visions for a few days they started
out. 1t was afternoon of the day fol
lowing the start, however. before they
reached the top of the ridge and the
scene of the fire and they were all SO
exhausted that very little fire fight
ing was done that evening, and il
was impossible to work through the
night on account of danger of being
killed. The top of the ridge where
lightning had started the fire is of an
elevation of some $500 feet, or near
ly 400 feet of climb from the Level
of the city of Leavenwolth and the
way up is rugged and difficult AT
this great heighth, with the fire burn
ing over the steep slopes, it was in
deed grave undertaking to even re
main in the vicinity of the fire dur
ing the hours of darkness.
When first reached the fire covered
about 200 acres and in spite of all that
could be done it gradually spread
along the ridge westward, and spark,
and heated rocks, rolling down the
slopes, spread it eastward and south
ward. 1t was prevented from work
ing northward for several days. Fl
nally on Wednesday, Aug. II, high
wind caused it to break all bounds
The trenching and clearing already
done counted for nothing The fire
romped along the southeasterly slope
swept west to Bridge Creek, crossed
the 1cicle and went up Eight Mile
creek and Eightmile mountain, ant
| down the Icicle to Rat creek. This
whole territory was not covered by
the fire on that day, but it had ex.
tended thus far by Tuesday of this
week, when preparations were begur
to put in large force of men and dc
all within the power of the service +c
control and quench the fire.
Supervisor A. H. Sylvester came
here early this week to advise am
assist Ranger J. s. Brender, and X
P. Cecil of the Portland office ha.
been here. Supplies were requisiton
ed from the Portland supply depot
men called in from other stations
where they could be spared. packing
outfits organized, camps opened fol-
the accommodation of force of about
two hundred men and all prepara
tions for regular campaign com
| pleted. Dude Brown is N charge o1
the pack train and several tons Of
supplies and equipment was haulec
to the end of the road by VIM. Bren
der and then packed to the three diff
ferent camps, two having been in op
Grafton for some time and a thrC
being opened on Bridge creek.
Men began arriving Wednesday,
only few, however, who were to as
sist in getting camps and equipment
organized, and yesterday afternoon i
was expected that in the neighbor
hood of two hundred men would be
on the job and ready to go.
1t is estimated that at least
weeks time will be required yet t.
bring the fire under complete con
troll, and basing his figures on thi.
nd the approximate cost to date, Su
pervisor Sylvester calculates that thi
fire alone will cost the Service SIS.
900; and under the circumstance,
we believe that we are very fortu
nate if il can be stopped for that fig
ure. II must be controlled at what
ever figures may be required, for i
threatens TO destroy a half billio,
feet of timber and completely stril
the Icicle watershed. which would b.
the greatest calamity this section o
the state can conceive of. For witt
the 1ccle watershed stripped, OF
water supply would be greatly reduc
ed and our climate seriously effected
The fire north of Cashmere or
Swaukane creek was coming unde
control early this week. and on We'd
nesday the Swauk creek fire. just owe
the summit of Blewett Pass. wa
thought TO be abating and that /
could be controlled For time i
was feared that this whole watershe
would be burned over. The fire mort,
of town, reported last week to hav
broken out anew, seems not to hav
gained much headway.