Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-08-06
Gains Control
Of Big Fire Ia
Yak District
Fighters Expect to Have
Trench Around It by
Friday Night
SILVER BUTTE BLAZE
ON PATROL BASIS

I'VE feel confident the big Deer
creek, or Yak, fire will be under
control not later than Friday night"
said J. B. Yule this morning, who -
temporarily in charge of the Libby
office in the absence of Supervisor
Webb on the fire line. I'VE dislike to
make predictions continued Mr.. Yule,
"tor the reason that almost anything
can develop within "a hours, but pres
emit expectations are that we will have
gained control of the big fire by tomor-
row night. All other fires on the forest
have either been put out or are under
control
Just as the fire fighting forces had
about gained control of the big Deer
creek blaze, strong wind last Sum-
day blew it again out of bounds, and
it has been casing trouble since that
time. An additional $50 men were
hurried onto this fire when it broke
away and by this morning had all OF
it surrounded with trench except
about II miles, which lies in two Sec
tons. One section, on Large creek,
will be closed by noon today, stated
Mr.. Yule. The other section of trench
Friday night, according to present ex-
pectations. That will give them con-
troll Of this blaze, which has been
bad one. 1t has been burning in
northeasterly direction and has reach
ed and crossed Large creek. 1t has
burned through fine body of white
pine and spruce timber The Kingsley
creek fire is completely under control
and is on a patrol basis. The two
camps that have been maintained there
are being cut down to one today
Hot Fire on Silver Butte Creek
About 10 o'clock Sunday morning a
fire was discovered on Silver Butte
creek south Of Libby, probably having
been started by lightning. This fire
was in very dangerous place, being
in the old 1910 burn, with much down
! timber and heavy second growth II
| it had been allowed to get away, the
large body of timber in the Fisher
river district would have been en-
dankered. Therefore every effort was
! made to control it at once.
Ranger Fem soon had 90 men
4 fighting it and by night the force had
\ been increased to 60 men, while an adj
dtional Is men were sent out as soon
as they could be gathered together. The
first shift worked all day Sunday all
i that night, and into the next morning
before being relieved. The fire was so
hot that the men were forced to lie
!. flat on the ground as they threw dirt
onto the blaze in their fight against
| it, Breaking away at one point the
flames reached camp and burned up
eight beds and some tools.
Every effort was made to hold this
fire. A pack train of horses were
loaded with five gallon containers of
water from a nearby creek which was
4 carried to the fire and used against
it. The fighters finally won the battle
and held the flames to an area of about
three acres, but it was a hard and
hot fight This fire is also under con-
troll and on a patrol basis. The crew
has been reduced to just enough men
to patrol 1t.
Bad Fires TO the West
i Most disastrous fires have been
burning in the vicinity Of Priest River,
Ida, and Newport, Wash. Daily papers
report that 81 ranch homes were de-
stroyed and about 300 head of cattle
either burned to death or injured so
badly that they had to be killed. Wild
animals and birds have suffered to an
equal extent. Many families came
trudging into the towns with practical
ly everything lost.
Forest officials estimate that 100
fires have been set in that district.
Secret service agents are going into
the timber in an attempt to apprehend
the guilty parties.