Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-07
4 LIVES, MORE THAN
100000 COST OF
1922 FOREST FIRES
Situation Critical in North
Idaho and British
Z -
Columbia.

Portland. July 6.-The forest fire
situation is critical over most of the
Pacific coast, according to bulletins
received by the Western Forestry and
Conservation association, the clearing
house of all western protective
agencies. While high mountain re-
gions have the advantage of late snow
disappearance this spring, May and
June were abnormally dry and woods
conditions have reached a danger point
earlier than usual. Already slashing
fires have caused heavy losses. I'm
less rain falls in a few days bad fires
in green timber are expected, ana
should there be wind the situation may
get beyond control. Appeals are being
made to all persons in the wood 10
use extraordinary precaution with
camp fires, matches and tobacco, and
to refrain from burning %slashings. The
fire laws are being enforced rigidly,
nine convictions having already been
obtained.
Washington has suffered worst, hav-
ing already had over 200 fires with an
estimated loss of $4,000 and two
lives. Two fires were caused by
moonshine stills. Little mature timber
was affected, being moist, but nearly
$4,000 acres Of young growth was in
jured while Is or 90 million feet of
logs were burned. with logging equip
ment worth $35O,O00. railroad prop
erty amounting to 100000. and resi-
dences or property of settlers fotalling
$4,000. About 300 patrolmen are
now being maintained comparatively
by private. state and federal agencies
the territory outside the national
forests which are wholly under gov
eminent protection. The state forester
is urging that logging operations cease
on extremely warm or windy days and
that as the berry season approaches
pickers in the woods refrain from
smoking Or building fires.
Oregon had only 100 fires reported
in June. with small damage. but the
are being recruited to full
strength and particular effort is being
made to perfect a prompt detection
and dispatching system for getting fire
by telephone and sending men
to the danger points. In few previous
years has the hazard been SO great
at the beginning of July.
South Idaho reports the season
about normal but north Idaho is dry
and hot. The outlook is serious. for
1 an III b' tIatu bBtLi' htiN
have been some 80 fires but the pro-
t~ective forces have controlled them so
with insignificant loss. Effort is
being made to get legal action on
every man-caused fire and several ar
rests have been made.
In western Montana the season is
still about normal and in eastern
Montana slightly favorable. Late snow
and late green vegetation afford an
not yet overcome by dry
weather.
In California. mountain conditions
are favorable, owing 10 late rains
Valleys and foothills are dry. There
have been several fires, but little
damage.
British Columbia reports excep-
~tionally hazardous conditions. In the
northern portion fires have already
been more numerous han in any pre-
yious entiG season except 1914. The
province has had $50 fires against 2i1
at the same date last yea Two lives
have been lost. The protection forces
strained to the utmost and fearful
they cannot maintain control.