The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-07-31
BAD FIRES RAGING
IN IDAHO TIMBER
CALLS FOR HELP SENT TO SPO-
KANE AND OTHER PLACES
MUCH LOSS FEARED

Forest fires have broken out in the
timbered sections of northern Idaho
and serious loss is threatened. Calls
for fire fighters have been sent
broadcast and men are being rushed
to the fire districts. On St. Joe
river there are said to be several
fires and the Priest River forests are
also threatened. Idaho has been un-
usually fortunate this year in es-
Gaping fires as there have been fewer
fires than usual up to this time and
none of them have been serious or
caused much loss. But the recent hot
weather has placed the timbered dis
tricts in ideal condition for conflagra-
tions and fears are held that unless
diligence is used repitition of the
losses of the past several seasons
may occur. A dispatch from Spo-
kane says:
Crews Sent Out.
Two firefighting crews were sent
out from the Spokane office last
night and orders were received today
for six more crews numbering nearly
200 men, according to F. R. Ingalsbe,
local manager. A line of firefighters
extending 100 yards into the street
from the Spokane fire office signed
government contracts to combat the
forest flames this morning.
Phillip Neff of the Occur d'Alene
forest office and R. r. Fitting, man
ager of the Standpoint office declared
today that number of crews are
being sent out today from those
points.
The recent hot days taking all of
the moisture from the ground and the
electric storms which passed over the
Idaho forest districts yesterday are
given as reasons for the sudden
spread of fires.
s"The three largest fires in this vi
cinity are the Perkins lake, Shoulder
creek and Coolin fires" declared Mr..
Fitting of Standpoint. ''The Shoulder
creek blaze covers about 200 acres
and the Coolih fire, eight miles east
of Coolin, is 20 acres in extent now.
The Perkins lake fire is eight miles
north of Bonners Ferry. About 70
other small fires caused by lightning
were put out before gaining any
Fall Creek Fire.
Mr.. Neff of the Occur d'Alene Of
flee stated that the biggest fire in his
district is known as the Fall creek
fire and covers approximately 2Ou
acres of timber.
ssThere are two or three other
smaller fires gaining some headway
on the upper S. Joe river" said Mr..
Neff. eve have had about Is light
ming fires in our district during the
last 48 hours which were put out I'M
Requisitions for firefighters from
the Spokane office today are: Twen-
ty-five men for Kaniksu forest near
Bismark ranger station; 81 men to
new fire which broke out last night |
at Lamb creek, So miles from Priest
river; 27 men to Whites Slashing |
fire. rail destination of men. Priest !.
River; 10 men to Clearwa.: forest;
2O firefighters Tor ST. Joe forest,
Avery, Idaho; IL smoke-chasers for
new blaze near Rupp, st. Joe river.
State Timber Not Affected.
'Not stick of state timber had
been reported burned up to last
night" said Ben Bush, state timber
cruiser, whose headquarters are at
Moscow. Mr.. Bush does not take the
alarming stories of forest fires ser1-
ously as he says these stories are apt
% be exaggerated by the time they
reach the DuD1C. lC Is dUOuC CluiC W
send out men to fight fires as the dry
season is now on and many men will
,e required for patrol duty" said he.
The state owns many millions of dol
ars worth of timber and is guarding
t carefully. While the state cooper
ties with the federal forestry de- |
oartment it has an Independent or
,anization for fighting and prevent
ng forest fires, and the organization
S said to be good one.
Fire In Clearwater County.
OROFINO.-A large number of
Tres are reported in the government
imber and' private holdings tributary !
o Orofino, the electrical storms of
he past three days being responsible
or the situation.
The government has had a good {
many men on the patrol and the fire {
ines for the past several days and a |
rev of 80 men arrived this evening s
or the Clearwater Fire Protection {
association. The association will re- !
eive at least 40 additional men to- c