The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1928-08-03
FIRE DESTROYS
BIG AREA in WASH.
600 SECTIONS WHEAT NEAR
WALLA WALLA BURNED,
MANY HOMES GO

Il III IN rlcn wheat LANDS
Eureka Flats, 80 miles northwe
of here, apparently was halted t
day after having ravaged 500
900 sections of farming country.
F. L. Armstrong, adjuster fl
the Northwestern Mutual Fire L
surance company returned heI
after having been in charge of tn
battle with the flames. He estin
ated the loss to wheat woul
reach 100000 besides value {
farm buildings and pasture land
that were burned. 1t was tn
worst fire, he said, in his 2
years experience in this vicinity
Burns 15-MiIe Front
The fire which started nea,
Walla Walla yesterday burned oil
a 15-mile front for a distance o
80 miles and today was burning
itself out as it approached The
Touchet river.
The big battle line was alons
the Eureka-Pasco highway, west
ward from Eureka junction, Arm
strong reported. BY keeping the
flames from crossing this road
several thousand acres of valuable
grain was saved.
Grain warehouses at Adkins
station, filled with this seasons
wheat were saved from the flames
when blowing and back firing
headed them around the struc-
lures.
More than 800 frenzied farmers
and volunteer fire fighters were
battling the fire this morning in
an attempt to save their homes
and crops. 1t was estimated the
fire had destroyed $4,000 to $75,-
600 sacks of grain and burned
over 10000 to $4,000 acres of
wheat, some of which had been
harvested, but much of which was
standing.
In addition, more than $4,000
acres of spring sheep pasture has
been destroyed. Many sheep
camps and buildings were burned.
Telephone wires were down and
roads blocked in the section and
it was impossible to get accurate
estimates of the destruction, but
reports here said at least ten
farm homes had been wiped out.
When it was realized that it
was impossible to stop the spread
of the fire many farmers began
packing their belongings and
sending the families out of the
area. They turned their live
stock loose on plowed ground.
Flowing burrows in advance of
the flames of the flames did no
good, it was said. Several of the
ranchers said they barely es-
capped with their lives in an effort
to save their ranches.
Several small towns in the dis
trict received refugees from the
lire swept GdHcueS.
Two warehouses are known to
have been destroyed, but the
amount of grain they contained is
not known.
Reports said the fire had follow
ed the Northern Pacific tracks at
Alfalfa. Wash, and that the Nor
thern Pacific was rushing tank
cars of water to aid in fighting the
flames.
The area burning is in Walla
Walla county on the edge of a
large wheat belt which extends
through southeastern Washington
nearly to the Idaho line and south
ward into the wheat lands of Una
tilla county, Ore. To the west of
the Eureka flats territory the
country is more or less desert and
pasture land. Many farms in the
vicinity were abandoned years
ago for lack of water. Because
of the dry hot weather common to
In1S COu0lTy uuI lHS Tic ouiilIiiOl'
wheat fires have always been
feared, since they spread rapidly
and quickly get out of control.
The destruction of the pasture
lands is considered important in
that thousands of sheep and cattle
raised there every year, will be
JoDr;ua1 Of food
1t has been reported the fire
was started by sparks from an n
CINE, the heat wave of the last
five days has absorbed much of
the moisture from the standing
grain, making it like finder.
Harvesting operations were in
full swing and while a good por-
ton of the fall wheat already has
been cut, thousands of acres of
standing spring grain were en-
dangered, and it is believed the
heaviest loss will be suffered
from destruction of this grain.
Reports this morning stated
there was little chance of rain
coming in time to save the grain,
although a thunder storm last