1915-16 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 



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started at different points from unknown causes — chiefly, however, from settlers 

 burning off their fallows — extended as far west along the Grand Trunk Pacific Rly. 

 as the Frederickhouse river, as far east as the Abitibi river, and north about ten 

 miles through part of the townships of GMackmeyer and Clute. Beyond the limits 

 of the town of Cochrane a large number of settlers lost their buildings and crops; 

 nearly all the culverts, corduroy roads and small bridges were burned. These fire* 

 swept over the country with great energy ; it was almost impossible to save buildings 

 or crops. The dry moss on the partially cleared lands and the debris left by the 

 settlers when taking out pulpwood, carried the fires from point to point. Ten 

 persons were burned to death a few miles north of Cochrane when attempting to 

 reach a small lake. 



Fires were started at different points along the Transcontinental as far west as 



View of the fire-swept territory near Matheson the day following the fire, July, 1916. 



Hearst (130 miles from Cochrane), started in most instances from settlers clear- 

 ing their land. Several homesteads were burned out but no lives lost. These 

 fires cleared up large areas of land and were in many instances of very great assist- 

 ance to the settlers. Clearings were made which would have taken the settlers years 

 to accomplish. In the vicinity of Hearst, along the line of railway, several culverts 

 and small bridges were burned on roads lately constructed by this branch. As soon 

 as the fire passed over immediate steps were taken to replace the culverts and 

 bridges and remove the burned corduroy and regrade the roads. 



In the vicinity of Matheson and Coclirane much of the available timber suit- 

 able for culverts and bridges was destroyed. Corrugated iron culverts had to be 

 secured; one hundred of these have already been put in places and several of the 

 smaller bridges on the more important roads renewed. 



