Catoctin clarion., 1923-04-26
MOUNTAIN FIRES


by the "lookouts" at Qui Rauk tower
near Pen-Mar, and Foxville. Sunday
five in Frederick and Washington
counties and three across the line ir
Pennsylvania. Four of the fires wert
in this county and in the aggregate
burned over 500 acres of land. All OF
the fires were gotten under control
during the day.
The county fires were in the noun
tains near Lewisown, near Foxville
and along the headwaters of Fishing
creek, a short distance from the Fred
erick city water shed. While the or
igin is unknown all are supposed to
have been the work of incendiaries.
The fire near the water shed burned
over about 500 acres of land and was
fought by about twenty-five men. 1t
ragged furiously until checked by rain
which set in shortly after eight o'clock
Sunday night.
AS soon as the fires were discovered
word was sent District Forester Cyril
Klein and he Immediately got in touch
with forest wardens in the localities of
the fires. Warden Albert L. Hauver,
Foxville, and Wardens C. A. Rice and
L. F. Lewis, near the water shed prop
erty organized forces of men and
fought the different fires until they
were under control. was stated that
about 200 acres of small timberland
was burned over near are water shed,
between SO and 100 near Foxville, and
probably 200 acres near Lewistown.
The Washington county fire, near
Smithsburg burned over about 100
acres of small timberland.
The most serious of the Pennsylva
MIA fires was near Mt. ALTO and it
burned over 300 acres of timberland.
On account of it's threatening aspect,
students at Mt. Alto State school were
called out to assist the warden and
his men. Two other fires in the same
locality were extinguished without
much trouble.
The lookout at the Foxville tower
discovered four fires Sunday, three of
which were the same reported from
the Qui Rauk tower. The fourth was
a woodlot fire which burned out with
in few hours after being discovered.
There was no fire near Thurmont, as
reported in the daily papers, the near
est being that near Fishing Creek,
which was visible here.
Later reports of forest fires (under
date of Tuesday morning) are as fol-
lows:
"Scores of forest fires still ragged
unchecked Monday in many points
through Maryland, Pennsylvania and
Virginia after having done thousands
of dollars damage. Property is threat |
ened in all directions, and hundreds of
men are fighting the enveloping flames
Twelve distinct fires are burning |
near Cumberland, Md, where the ex-
tensive orchard on Green Ridge noun |
tain are in immediate danger. A spec !!
tacular fight is being made to save
the large storage tanks of the Stand
ard Oil Company in Cumberland Mar
rows, near the city limits. Carloads
of sand are being rushed up to stem
the flames, which have approached to
a menacing distance.
"South of Herndon, Va, walls of
flame have consumed everything from
Lawyer road to Hunters station, leav-
ing a devastated path of more than
fifteen miles. A gale is blowing and
little Keadway can be made in stop
ping the fire.
"The forest fires which have been
burning in the neighborhood of
Md, since Saturday noon
have spread over 5000 acres and burn
ed down one home. While it is be-
lieved that the fires are under con-
troll, there is still danger as shoulder
ing embers are famed into flames and
start running through unburned wood
and. Many fire-fghters are standing
guard.
Fires near Silver Springs have run
through an area Of five miles at places
rom t1Wo IN thraa rniloe vyida Anofh-