XVI 



REPORT OF THE 



No. 3 



and crops, part of the plant of the Abitibi Pulp and Paper Co., and part of the 

 town of Iroquois Falls. 



The weather for three weeks previous to the 29th of July had been extremely 

 hot and dry, with high winds. The fire started at almost every point of the com- 

 pass — in the settlers' clearings, and cut over pulp lands — in many places started 

 from unknown causes, in most instances, however, where settlers had been burning 

 off new clearings. The townships around Matheson, although partly burned over 

 on three previous occasions, were again fire swept. Farm buildings and crops were 

 completely destroyed, but the saddest part of all was the great loss of life. The 

 fires and storms of previous years had levelled down the large timber, forming wind- 

 falls around the swamps. The Hames swept from one farm clearing to another; 

 fields of grain and swamps formed no barriers or protection. Township after town- 



The Town of Matheson after the fire of July, 1916. 



ship was burned over and even the virgin forest in places was left practically ready 

 for the plow. 



This fire burned on both sides of the T. & N. 0. Ely., from Eamore, south to 

 Matheson, north to Porquois Jet., and on both banks of the Black river, completely 

 destroying the villages of Kelso, Nushka, part of Porquois Jet., part of Iroquois 

 Falls, the town of Matheson, the business part of Cochrane, and nearly all the 

 culverts, corduroy and small bridges on the trunk roads. 



While this fire was burning a fire of less magnitude was burning around the 

 town of Cochrane. It started near the south-west end of the town where settlers 

 had been burning off their old fallows a few days previous. Every effort was made 

 by the citizens of Cochrane and the fire brigade to extinguish this fire, but without 

 avail. The business portion of the town was completely destroyed. The fire, 

 however, did not extend far beyond the limits of the town. Numerous small fires 



