FIRES RAGING IN U.S. AND CANADA

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 August 1949, Page 5

FIRES RAGING IN U.S. AND CANADA

NEW YORK, August 22 (Rec. 2 —Fierce forest fires are raging today in seven American States and in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. The worst American fires are in Idaho and Wyoming. Others are burning in Montana, Utah, Oregon, Washington and California. * Six major fires are out of controlthree in Payette National Forest, Central Idaho and three in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. 1 The most dangerous fire is a 7000acre blaze in Hell’s Canyon, in the Payette forest. Several fire-fighters there suffered burns when a high wind swept the flames down on them. The area of the outbreaks is drought-stricken and lightning has caused over 300 fires through an estimated 33,000 acres of timber. Thousands of firefighters are fighting a desperate battle trying to control the most serious of them. In Quebec today, 80 forest fires burned—l2 of them out of control. _ Forestry officials said the high winds and lack of rain made the situation serious. The worst fire in Ontario is in 40.0 acres of timber near the village of Irondale, which is threatened. Volunteers have been rushed to the area by plane. Other aircraft are hovering over the district, radioing directions to the fire-fighters.