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A Crook County Historical Moment
| Forest Fires Took Huge Toll in Early Days |
Central Oregon has had numerous large forest
fires over the years but until recently none were
of conflagration type. Although large acreages
burned the damages were mostly limited to the
timber stands and natural resources.
Early news reports of fires outlined some of the
fires and the results of the blazes. Many fires
had occurred in early settlement but received
little reporting. One of the earliest reported fires
by the Bend Bulletin occurred in August of 1908
and was located on Paulina Mountain southeast of
Bend. Head forest ranger of the Rosland District,
F.P. Petit, “came to Bend Monday to secure men
to fight the fire, which extended over an
unbroken line for 15 miles and was traveling to
the southeast.”
It was reported that Petit called for 150 men
to fight the flames, but all that could be found
were some locals in Bend. A call went out to
Prineville, Shaniko and Moro for men to come
help fight the fire. Pickup labor was paid $2.50
per hour to fight fire. Rain arrived to help control
the fire.
Another fire of note was started by lightning
on June 6, 1910 near the mouth of Jefferson
Creek west of the Metolius River. The fire burned
a huge area five miles down the Metolius River
and up to the top of Green Ridge. Another fire
started by lightning on the same day near Edison
ice cave burned over 7,000 acres.
fires over the years but until recently none were
of conflagration type. Although large acreages
burned the damages were mostly limited to the
timber stands and natural resources.
Early news reports of fires outlined some of the
fires and the results of the blazes. Many fires
had occurred in early settlement but received
little reporting. One of the earliest reported fires
by the Bend Bulletin occurred in August of 1908
and was located on Paulina Mountain southeast of
Bend. Head forest ranger of the Rosland District,
F.P. Petit, “came to Bend Monday to secure men
to fight the fire, which extended over an
unbroken line for 15 miles and was traveling to
the southeast.”
It was reported that Petit called for 150 men
to fight the flames, but all that could be found
were some locals in Bend. A call went out to
Prineville, Shaniko and Moro for men to come
help fight the fire. Pickup labor was paid $2.50
per hour to fight fire. Rain arrived to help control
the fire.
Another fire of note was started by lightning
on June 6, 1910 near the mouth of Jefferson
Creek west of the Metolius River. The fire burned
a huge area five miles down the Metolius River
and up to the top of Green Ridge. Another fire
started by lightning on the same day near Edison
ice cave burned over 7,000 acres.
One of the most expensive early forest fires occurred in August 1924 near Wasco Lake. It required
more expenditure of funds than any other fire on The Deschutes National Forest up until that time. It
spread through 2,517 acres of timber in a very rugged area. The cost to control the fire was $18,125.
The Bend Bulletin reported that firefighters were handicapped by “fallen logs, thick underbrush and
steep hillside.” Most of the fire fighters were men from the McKenzie Pass road construction crews.
Local residents on the Metolius river baked pies and doughnuts for the firefighters.
There were several large fires during the 1930’s including one on the Warm Springs Indian
Reservation that burned over 100,000 acres of mostly sage, grass and juniper.
The Minto Pass fire of 1945 was a hold over lightning fire that consumed over 4,000 acres just
north of Santiam Pass. It only received a small note in local newspapers as the surrender of Japan
during World War II was the big news item. But as the fire grew it began to share headlines with war
news. A crew of 150 men was fighting the fire and U.S. Marines from Klamath Falls were requested to
help fight the fire. Eventually over 600 men were used to fight the fire but it was finally extinguished
by a late August rainstorm.
Fires have occurred on a regular basis in Central Oregon through the years and the fires of recent
years have been more complex and damaging because of the extension of homes into the wildland
environment and the build up of fuels over the years that typically would have burned in the natural
cycle.
more expenditure of funds than any other fire on The Deschutes National Forest up until that time. It
spread through 2,517 acres of timber in a very rugged area. The cost to control the fire was $18,125.
The Bend Bulletin reported that firefighters were handicapped by “fallen logs, thick underbrush and
steep hillside.” Most of the fire fighters were men from the McKenzie Pass road construction crews.
Local residents on the Metolius river baked pies and doughnuts for the firefighters.
There were several large fires during the 1930’s including one on the Warm Springs Indian
Reservation that burned over 100,000 acres of mostly sage, grass and juniper.
The Minto Pass fire of 1945 was a hold over lightning fire that consumed over 4,000 acres just
north of Santiam Pass. It only received a small note in local newspapers as the surrender of Japan
during World War II was the big news item. But as the fire grew it began to share headlines with war
news. A crew of 150 men was fighting the fire and U.S. Marines from Klamath Falls were requested to
help fight the fire. Eventually over 600 men were used to fight the fire but it was finally extinguished
by a late August rainstorm.
Fires have occurred on a regular basis in Central Oregon through the years and the fires of recent
years have been more complex and damaging because of the extension of homes into the wildland
environment and the build up of fuels over the years that typically would have burned in the natural
cycle.
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A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum
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See the drop
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local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
down menu at
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page for more
local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
Use the drop down menu for more local stories of Prineville's colorful past.
