The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-10-14
1900 ACRES IN
.COUNTYDAMACED
BY FOREST FIRES
Flames Brought Under Control
Late Last Night; 3 COmmuni-
ties Threatened For A Time

A number of forest fires which
broke out on Backbone Mountain
yesterday morning were brought
under control last night, but not
before flames had swept over an
estimated 1000 acres of timber
land and had threatened for a
time to engulf three small COM
munities.
Most of the fires ragged for dis
lance of seven miles between the
Kelse Gap toward Bloomington and
threatened the mining community of
VindeX and the villages of Mt. Zion
and Barnum, near the State line be-
fore they were brought under control
While these fires were burning,
other areas were also on fire-one
near Grantsville, one at Sand Flat, one
near the old Deer Park Hotel, one at
the Oakland city dump, west of town,
and one on the Potomac State for
est.
William H. Johnson, District For
ester, declared this morning that fires
had been raging in the NindeX and
Backbone Mountain areas for the past
four or five days and that it was pos
sible that the fires had been set by
some firebug.
State police were called to the scene
yesterday to investigate the POSSIBLE
ity that they were set, Johnson said.
He added that there was nothing def
mite, although we believe children
playing with matches caused the blaze
at Sand Flat and in the Potomac
State park" 1t was also pointed out
that careless hunters may have start
ed the fires, as the woods are pacticu-
larly dry at this time.
Although flames swept dangerously
near VindeX, Barnum and Mt. Zion,
Mr.. Johnson said that he had received
no reports Of any homes or other
buildings having been destroyed late
last night. Vindex was out of danger
entirely.
About 200 forest wardens, State and
county road workmen, pulp mill en-
ployes and coal miners were sum-
moned by the Maryland State De-
partment of Forests and Parks to bat
tie the numerous blazes which brought
to a total of 1900 acres the amount
of land burned over in this county in
the past five days,
The unusually dry conditions will
still mean "lot of patrolling," Mr..
Johnson said, "unless a heavy rain
falls" Southel!y winds brought light
rain early this morning.
Special equipment to haul water for
use in extinguishing the fires were
sent to this county for the emergen-
cy, but the shortage Of water made
the equipment of little use. Johnson
said the workers were about exhausted
last night. 1t was necessary to haul
water a great distance from the few
streams that are not dried up and
that in some places it was impossible
to get the equipment to the scene Of
the flames.
The Kitzmilleer Fire Department
was assisting in fighting the blaze
in the Vmdex community, while the
Oakland department was called sew
cral times to help in the areas at
Sand Flat, Deer Park and west Of
town.
town. Some members of the triple-F'
service of Oakland High school as
sisted at some of the smaller fires,
State Forester Here
Joseph F. Kaylor state forester, az
rived in the county about midnight
last night and this morning accom-
panied by Mr.. johnson made a check
of the area.
Mr.. Kaylor said that although the
fire burned within 100 feet of some
buildings in Vindex, that the danger
was over for the town, and alleviated
throughout the area for few hours
as the light rain had given the fire
fighters a breathing spell,
He praised the work of the state
and county road crews, the miners
and pulp and paper employees, who
aided the regular forest wardens and
other state employees in battling the
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