Imperial Valley press., 1931-07-23
FORESTS
MENACED
BY FIRE
Mountain States Area Is
Threatened By Spread
ing Flames.
GOVERNMENT AIDS
Dryness And Humidity
Cause Fears For I'm
mense Damage.
(RY United Press

(By United Press
Fires swept the forests of four
western states today, where more
than 10000 acres of timber and
grass range have been burned.
The most serious fires were re-
ported from Montana, Wyoming and
Idaho. with smaller fires in South
Dakota.
One of the most serious fires, 16
miles from Anaconda. Mont, al
ready destroyed some farm build
ings, and today threatened sectors
of the summer-home colony on the
Silver lake.
Mount Maggin due ranch en-
ployees rescued two parties OF va
cationists from the fire zone Wed
nesday after the alarm spread.
From the south, across the Idaho
state line. a fire in the Salmon for
est was working its way through
Big Hole Pass into Beaverhead Ma
tional Forest. Last night 300 men
were sent to the area.
Several fires were reported from
Yellowstone National Park, but
only one was serious. Already 1t
had devastated 10000 heavily TIM
bered acres, and today moved for
ward unchecked across a four mile
| front.
Eastern Wyoming also was hard
hit. with losses mounting to several
hundred thousand dollars estimated
by forestry officials.
Three small fires were reported
today in the Flathead country OF
western Montana, and crews we're
sent to prevent their spreading TO
the Flathead forest reserves.
Humidity continues low while for
the 18th consecutive day the mer-
curry has exceeded go degrees, max
ing the fire hazard more serious
and contributing to the tinder-nke
condition in the forest.
Unless a decided change in cll-
matte conditions occurs, the present
situation will soon approximate that
of the holocaust year, 1929, when
thousands of acres of western tim
ber lands were razed.
So serious had the situation be-
come that closure orders for the
IBeaverhead and Deer Lodge Ma
tional Forests were made today.
while in western Montana the Bit
ter Root and Lolo forests already
have been closed except to those
possessing permits issued by the
forest service.
MISSOULA, Mont, July %. (U.H)
Regional forest service headquar-
ters today ordered extra forces to
immediate duty on the Nee Peroe
National Forest fire fronts.
Every effort will be made to keep
the blaze from crossing the conti-
mental divide and firing the Beaver
head National Forest, officials an
inounced.
The worst sector of the fire is 80
miles from Wisdom, Mont, near the
Big Hole Pass. A fire fighting unit
of 26O men is concentrated here. and
an additional crew of so fire fight
ers was being recruited this morn
ing.
Two other fires in the Beaverhead
concerned officials, and additional
men were sent to aid in ringing
them. They were located east OF
Wisdom on the east side OF the
Big Hole valley. Forces numbering
more than 100 already are at the
, scenes, with reserves enroute.
The following Idaho forests have
/ been closed except to those obtain
ing permits from the forest service
= offices:
. Coeur dAlene, Pend Oreille, st.
Joseph. Clearwater, Selway and
NeZ Perce.
: BUTTE, Mont, July %. tU.P) -
: An additional crew of so men,
equipment and food supplies were
; sent to the Silver Lake area at
t daybreak where forest fires threat
: ened the summer home colony on
: the south lake shore.
; A special train from Livingston.
Mont, brought 100 additional men
: last night and camp was being es-
5 tablished today in the Sickle Greek
/ area, % miles from south entrance
The estimate of the damage IN
, the Basin Greek area today was set
| at 10000 acres after airplane OBJ
servers mapped the fire area.
| Improvement in climatic condl-
| tions today allowed fire units 70
, move closer to the fire fronts in the
Sheridan district fire. and Super
| intendent Toll was encouraged by
DrOpress made