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A TYPICAL VIRGIN F0RE:ST IN WASHINGTON UNTOUCHED BY FIRE 



The principal tree is Douglas fir, three to eight feet in diameter and 200 to 250 feet 

 high. Forest fires have done but little serious damage. Trees of all ages grow mingled 

 together. 



less proportions were burning through- 

 'Out that region, and it is probable that 

 but little effort was made to extinguish 

 them. Early in the afternoon of Octo- 

 ber 7 the various smaller fires began to 

 sweep together and formed a single fire 

 -of enormous proportions. 



Within nine hours the fire had burned 



over a strip of forest 80 miles long and 

 25 miles wide, destroying every living 

 thing in its path. One hundred and sixty 

 persons perished and nearly 1,000 head 

 of stock. Five hundred and ninety 

 buildings were burned and a number of 

 towns were destroyed, including New- 

 castle, Chatham, and Douglastown. It is 



665 



