T he MILL CITY ENTERPRISE ELKHORN G ATES IDANHA LYONS MEHAM \ MONGOL!» THE STRONGEST BOND OF HUMAN SYMPATHY, OUTSIDE OF THE FAM- ILY RELATION, SHOULD HE ONE UNITING ALI WORKING PEOPLE, OE ALL NATIONS, AND TONGUES, AND KINDREDS.” Rain Storm Tames Wild Canyon Fire Hot, Dry Winds Pose New Threat — Abraham Lincoln, in a letter to New- York Workmen’s Ass’n. in 1864. intimate View Of Fire Given By JEAN ROBERTS Smoke hangs low over this com­ munity, from the Sardine creek fire which started a week ago. The cause of the fire is still a matter of con- .ecture. First it was reported as originating in the Lee Logging. Many thought a wire on a donkey could have shorted and caused the flame. One eye wit­ ness, however, reported seeing the conflagration well under way and outside the landing where donkeys are situated. The intensity of the heat was de­ scribed with awe by the first individ­ uals on the fire line in the Sardine creek canyon. A mechanic for the Vancouver Plywood company stated that he saw hemlocks, two feet in diameter, snapped off like twigs when struck by the roaring tide of searing flames. It is reported that nine million feet < f timber lay felled and bucked in the steep canyon. The logs almost con­ stituted a cold deck which burned with seething fury. There will be very little timber salvage in this location, many loggers state. The Sardine creek fire swept through the landing and completely destroyed a new yarder valued at $60.000. A "loading pot" nearby, loaded with five barrels of gasoline, had only the tops blown from the drums. A fire pump set in Sardine creek was abandoned the first night. As the heat became more intense and threatening the fire crew left the pump while it was still running and Tan for safety. They climbed into a pickup and sped away from the danger zone through smoke and ashes down the narrow roadway. Luckily no fallen snags or rocks blocked their way. Crews are still being dispatched to the fire area. They work a 12-hour shift. Loggers and timber fallers are needed for falling snags which will burn and scatter sparks for weeks after the main fire has passed. Mill owners have also sent men by rotat­ ing their working shifts. Man power also has been recruited as far away as the coast. State forestry headquarters were set up at Little Sweden and men check in and out each day. Men bring lunches and eat at 10 a m. The forest service distributes another lunch at 2 p.m. “Cats" dot the hillsides as they punch roads into terrain so rough that perhaps only a few yards of road is built each day. Fire trucks loaded with water toil up and down the tortuously steep roads. Fire fighters have practically i quenched the west end of the fire on 1 the Marion county side. Mr. and Mrs. Ercill Wilson and Reems Shehee who returned in trucks from eastern Oregon, reported a narrow escape from the fire near the Detroit dam. Disregarding highway warning notices they started driving (Continued on Page 4) Coming Events . . . MONDAY— American Legion Auxiliary 3d Mon. Lions club meeting. A F. A A M. No. 180 stated meet­ ing third Monday. O.E.S. meeting, 2d Monday month. TUESDAY— Boy Scout« at City park, 7 p.m. Chamber of Commerce 2 & 4 neon luncheon. Lions Auxiliary 4th Tuesday Women's club 8 p.m. 1st, 3rd Tues 129-J School Board meeting 2d Tues WEDNESDAY— Santiam Eagles and auxiliary 8 p.m. at Mill City fire hall. Santiam Rebekah 16ft—1st and 3rd Wed. at 8 p.m. City council first Wed. 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY— Theta Rho Club for Girls, meets 2d and 4th Thursdays. Gates PT A 1st Thursday 8 p.m. American Legion 2d and 4th Thurs Garden club fourth Thursday. Firemen Auxiliary meets 3d Thurs. FRIO 1Y— tO O F. meeting Mill City TWA meeting last Friday Farmers Union meeting at Mehama Woman's club, 2nd First, light moisture in the form of mist from overcast skies filtered down. Monday night, then, seemingly en­ couraged with result, the clouds rumbled ominously and released a steady patter of rain early Tuesday over thirsty forest lands in the North Santiam canyon and the entire Willamette valley as well. The climax of the rain storm came. Wednesday morning when storm clouds spat claps of thunder and lightning and splattered large rain­ drops in rushing torrents upon our fire stricken canyon. With the coming of the precious rain, the arduous work of more than 1006 fire fighters bore fruit. Fire trails presented stout barriers to the relentless advance of the Sardine creek fire on all fronts. Federal and state foresters caution, however, that should hot, dry weather and high winds resume their rule in the northwest then the Sardine creek fire reasonably could threaten again* on a large scale forest lands and nearby canyon com­ munities. Rain Cools and Washes Air Visible effect of some .51 of an inch of rain is the absence of wood smoke and ashes in the atmosphere In their place there are filmy whisps of fog and a cleau. fresh smell. The canyon route is open again, bat travelers will note a new hard surface has been applied between the sites of Detroit and Big Cliff dams. Those who fled the Detroit area during the height of the Sardine creek fire have in large measure returned Some 100 fire fighters are busy scooping out fire trails and felling snags which are potential torches. State authorities have lifted the ban against all logging and have re-instated the rule of no logging if the humidity reading falls below 30. Sardine creek fire blackened some 0,000 acres of forest land during its onslaught. Some 1,200 men were battling the fire without too much success when it was at it» peak. Last Thursday night the Sardine creek fire dis­ played unusual viciousness by skipping across the North Santiam highway and river into Linn county. Fortun­ ately the angry blaze did not consume 9,000 acres of saw timber, but instead swept through large areas of com­ parative waste. Sunday Wax Worst Day of Fire Sunday was the most discouraging day of the Sardin*■ creek fire. Haggard and serious faced fire fighters shuttled back and forth from the fire lines for foorf. supplies and a hit of needed rest. No one expre-sewi the hope that the fire could be corralled by human effort alone. Everyone felt only rain could tame the Sardine creek fire. Observation from the air was thwarted by the dense smoke that boiled up and choked the atmos­ phere above the blazing timberlands. All too often fire fighters recounted seeing and hearing the fire roar up first one ravine and then down another like an enraged (JAtß5 J w wild animal. h- to All forms of transportation were used in the fire fighting effort. A ’copter was used for observation of the course of the fire and for emergency supply work Pack trains were loaded heavily with supplies and sent trudging into the rough and rugged forest area where the fire raged. Jeeps and trucks of many types, loaded with men and supplies, braved the few so-called roads leading to the various sectors of the sprawling fire. One such jeep failed in its duty and killed one fire fighter. Winds Whipped Flames About / Z One of the greatest difficulties encountered in battling the canyon fire was its habit of taking to the tree top» Detroit = I Mile Winds, whipped by the heat of the fire itself, carried Pd.tn embers from tree to tree. Snags, full of explosive pitch, burst into massive torches that led the fire on and on. Included in the fire area was timber sold by the state to Vancouver Plywood company for $465,000. Marion county’s civil defense teams were put to the The photo above records a scene similar to that which set the dam is located a quarter of a mile from this site of destruction. test Thursday night when a call for help came in from stage for the road and river crossing of the Sardine creek fire« The shaded portion of a sketch of the Sardine creek area re­ the Detroit area. The civil defense units and equipment produced below renresents approximately the locale and size last Thursday night. Downstream from this Whitman creek remained in the Detroit area until the tense situation scene hot ashes and fiery splinters sailed through the air and of the fire, Friday, August 24. From this relatively modest eased because of the rain storm. ignited patches of timber on the south bank of the North San­ area, the blaze quickly spread itself over an estimated 9,(M»(l-acre Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon has asked President area. (Photo and sketch courtesy of The Statesman) tiam river. The Corps of Engineer's headquarters for Detroit Truman for emergency aid for Oregon because of the destruction visited upon it in recent weeks by this and dozens of other very serious forest fires. Home 53 «lays of drouth pro­ duced acute water shortage problems in many areas of the state. Power Juxt as The Enterprise wax going generation, no doubt, will be curtailed Those who live in the Marion Forks Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Hoeye were area are rugged stock and take their M 11 City high school plays an im­ honored at a golden wedding tea, to press it wax learned that Kelly because of the drouth. Bonneville ad­ politics straight, but it does irk them pressive eight-game schedule for 1951. Wednesday afternoon during the Mill Lumber softball team lost both of its ministration has already issued warn­ somewhat that they must travel Four game: will be at home and two City Garden club annua) flower show games in Corvallis tonight. Kelly’s ings regarding the impending short­ oftentime 20 to 30 miles to the pollirg of these home games will be league in the Presbyterian church recreation lost to Hermixton 2-1. Corvallis de­ age. places near Gates, Some 51 of these games, according to Burton Boroughs, room, "Golden Wedding” was the feated Kelly’s in their second game, Observers tonight point out that the good citizens have petitioned the athletic coach. Sardine creek fire near Big Cliff dam theme for the flower show. Mrs. 3-2. Eugene won the tournament. Linn County court for a more conven- Mill City high has the nucleus for Hoeye is the only garden club mem- Through two convincing victories, is still far from being out. Tongue» ient voting place. a good team since, 14 lettermen are ber who has celebrated this fifty year the Kelly Lumber softball team has of flame lick at trees and brush in The signers of the precinct-changf* returning. The lettermen are: ends— event. advanced to the semi-finals of the the area located between Detroit and petition all live in the very large pre­ Delmar Skillings, Dick Downer, Bob One corner of the Presbyterian re­ Oregon state softball tournament. In Big Cliff dams on the south bank of cinct of Rock Creek and must vote in Baltimore, and Richard V^rbeck; creation hall was given over to the the first game, the local team edged the river. the Gates school house. tackles Dick Williams and Gary tea service. The tea table was nicely Redmond four to three with Ron Because of the increase in popula­ Peterson; guard—Vernon Christen­ decorated with a lace cloth and golden Davidson on the mound. Bud Shaw tion in the upper North Santiam