The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-09-18
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
FOREST FIRE BATTLE
CENTERS IN OREGON
Fire Advances on Three Fronts
Toward Hamlet of 800
on Columbia River
CONTROL VENTURA BLAZE
Homes, Automobiles, Schools,
Orchards Destroyed by
Roaring River Of Oil
CONTROL VENTURA BLAZE

Portland. Ore. Sept. l8.-tF)-Stev-
enson. a little town Of 800 inhabitants
30 miles northeast Of here on the
Washington bank Of the Columbia
river. was the center Of forest fire
activity in the Pacific northwest to-
day. Defeated on two other fronts,
the sweeping red menace had swung
around and was advancing on Steven
son from the north. east and west.
Stevenson was virtually isolated
fires having burned out telephone and
telegraph lines and halted traffic
over the north bank highway between
that city and Vancouver. About l25
volunteer fighters were able to pro-
ceed to Stevenson by way of the
Bridge of the Gods from Hood River
Oregon, however.
Scores Of fires were reported burn
ing in the vicinity of Stevenson. the
closest being about one mile west OF
the town. Another was held in tim
Der within q stones throw Of the
Ryan Allen saw mill, two miles north
Of the village. The volunteers from
Hood River were fighting the latter
blaze.
Stevenson Loss s4oo.0OO
Property loss in the vicinity oi
Stevenson was said to approximate
800 900 not including the destruction
Of standing timber.
Yacolt, seriously threatened Mon-
day night, was declared out of danger
but train Of flat cars was being kept
handy to move out the entire popula-
tion should an emergency arise.
Forest officials at Vancouver
WASH, estimated the Dole fire which
Is threatening Stevenson, has burned
over more than $1,000 acres in Clark
and 6kamania counties.
Me-
Ventura. Calif.. Sept. l8-tPl-The
most disastrous fire In Ventura coun-
tvs history was surrendering reluc-
family today leaving 25.000 acres
blackened in the triangular noun.
famous oil field section bounded by
Ventura, Ojai and Santa Paula. DAM
age stood at between $1,000 900 and
$500. 900. and one death was laid to
the fire.
Still Burn In Canyon
Flames still ragged near Santa Paula
III Wheeler canyon, Canada Larga. al
the head Of Santa Paula canyon. and
In several smaller canyons near the
z. L. Doheny mansion at Fcrndale
where the blaze started two days age
from q broken high tension wire In
6isar canyon.
Four hundred men were concen.
trating their efforts in Wheeler and
adjacent canyons and county fire
wardens were hopeful the flames
would be placed under control bar.
ring unforeseen shifts Of wind. Prop.
erty destroyed included l26 oil rigs
outside the main Ventura Avenue
field, which was not touched.
Scores OF homes were burned. along
with scattered oil field equipment
and many automobiles abandoned on
impassable roads BY fleeing residents
were lost. Five small school build
ings were consumed.
Bla1e Causes Death
The fire indirectly caused one
death. Norman Beenls. national for
est service official. riding q motor
cycle along . smoke -choked highway
collided with q fire truck. He died
Ii . hospital. Seven men were burned
more Or less seriously.
Citrus groves and walnut orchards
suffered unestimated losses, rs the
hnnt NAaecn<a 1nn vac - riaes1 aud fall
and unpicked fruit and nuts to drop
TWO hundred and fifty persons
chiefly oil field workers and theil
families. were homeless. Houses II
the path Of the flames In many In.
stances were erased from the land.
scape. Eleven oil companies suffered
the most severe losses. Other fires
In southern California were extin.
euished or under reduced guard today