Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-15
Downpour Needed To
Put Out Dozens Of
Fires Still Raging In
Aroostock County
Fire Zone Stretches 100
Miles from Ashland
juno ton to Fort
Kent = Rain Saves
Masardis and Other
Smaller Places =
Losses Will Tot al
Over Half Million

N Dreaming oPCil was dlOI uCu
the thousands of forest fire fighters
in Aroostook County Thursday who
have been battling the past week
with fires in more than 80 sections,
by light rain which fell for several
hours during the forenoon over
much Of the country. and the cessa-
ton of the high winds.
This rain, the first to fall for near
ly three weeks. did not extend as
far north as Stockholm. however.
and will check only temporarily the
fires in the other parts of that couh-
ty. and those along the New Bruns-
wick side of the border, opposite
Van Buren, and Fort Fairfield.
Nothing but downpour will ex-
tinguish fires raging in So many To-
calities north OF Houlton and es-
pecially along the Ashland branch
of the Bangor and Aroostook Rail-
road. Dozens of extensive fires are
still burning. but for the present
under control, along the 100 mile
stretch from Ashland Junction to
Fort Kent and branches to the
north, crossing the border north Of
st. Francis by fire starting on the
Canadian side.
The rain brought relief to the ten
sion in a number of towns, including
Masardis, which have been threat
ened with the same fate that befeH'
the little village of Griswold, eight
miles from Masardis. which was de-
stroyed Tuesday night, after it's 200
inhabitants had been rescued by re-
lief trains. This fire was brought
under control after it reached.
point within two miles of Masardis.
whose 1000 residents were prepared
to flee at any moment last night.
Approximately 100000 acres Of
cumberland have been burned, with a
loss Of over half a million dollars,
during the present season, it was es-
timated tonight by State Forest
Commissioner Samuel 7. Dana.
Practically all these fires have
occurred the past two weeks, as
there was no damage of any conse-
quence to the forest growth until
Memorial Day. During last season,
approximately 21,OOO acres were
burned with a loss of $4,000. while
in 1921. 1000 acres were burned
with loss of $4,000.
The heaviest loss this season has
been in Eastern Aroostook County,
north of Houlton, and east of the
Ashland branch OF the Bangor and
Aroostook Railroad. He estimated
that 20 per cent of the loss was in
this section, where the fires have
ragged the past week. The next
largest loss was in the wild land
north of Chesuncook Lake, in Pts
cataquis County. last week. where
1900 acres were burned over. There
are no fires in other Maine counties,
except two or three small ones In
northern Washington County.
Commissioner Dana received word
today OF a large fire in township 20,
ranges il and II. northwest OF st.
Francis and just south Of st. Fran
els River which forms part of the
northern Aroostook boundary OF
Quebec. The loss will amount to
thousands Of dollars.
1t was reported this fire started on
the Canadian side in Temiscouata
County where forest fire conditions
were described as "frightful," today
by Chief Forester Piche at Quebec.
"On the whole" said Commits
sioner Dana, conditions are a great
deal better than they were yester-
day. The situation is still very seri-
GUS. and 1t looks az IL the loss by
forest fires would be the heaviest
since 1908. Reports received today
show that 1t has been damp and
cold in Aroostook County, with some
rain in the vicinity of Houlton and
Caribou, but further north in the
region of Stockholm. there has
hardly been enough to lay the dust"
A new fire, reported today. burned
over 500 acres In township IA, range
q. near Nixon's Siding, on the Ban
gor and Aroostook Railroad be-
tween Portage Lake and Winter
vile. before it was brought under
control.
Other new fires were reported at
Mud Lake and Long Lake in town
ship IL. range 4, north of Stock
holm, in Cyr Plantation. east Of
Stockholm, and at Monticello. just
north Of HouIton.' These were not
under control. the Monticello fire
sweeping two miles toward Harvey's
Siding.
The heaviest loss in any one Sec
ton was at Griswoid, where 40
houses. a mill and much lumber
and puIpwood were burned with 4
loss unofficiaiiy estimated in excess
OF 100000. Dozens OF isolated
farmhouses and buildings have been
burned in other places throughout
Aroostook County.