9i Third Annual Report of the 



Only two of the 688 fires were not promptly gotten under con- 

 trol. Of these, the larger one occurred in Essex county and the 

 smaller one in Lewis county. On Sunday, August 17th, a severe 

 electrical storm swept over the major portion of the Adirondacks ; 

 seven forest fires in five different counties were set by lightning 

 during that storm; about noon of that day a dry stub, near the 

 foot of Mt. Macomb, in the town of North Hudson, was struck by 

 lightning and quickly caught fire. The point where this fire 

 originated was approximately five miles from any habitation and 

 in an area, which had been burned over in 1903, and subsequently 

 lumbered. The smoke from the fire was detected almost imme- 

 diately by the observer on Makomis Mountain Station, who noti- 

 fied the local ranger. The fire and lumber slash furnished ideal 

 food of the flames, which, fanned by a strong wind, spread with 

 great rapidity. The ranger quickly summoned the few male resi- 

 dents of that locality and hastened to the fire. It was necessary for 

 them to travel nearly five miles through rough country and well 

 nigh impenetrable fire slash. When they reached the fire they 

 were almost exhausted and it was beyond their control. This fire 

 burned nearly two months, and several hundred men were em- 

 ployed in the endeavor to check its spread. A Commissioner, the 

 Superintendent of State Forests, Assistant Superintendent of 

 State Forests, two district forest rangers and six rangers were 

 present. Owing to the sparsely populated section outside help 

 had to be secured. The Witherbee-Sherman Company of Port 

 Henry sent a large number of men from Mineville. Finch, Prayn 

 & Company, and other operators supplied their crews of men em- 

 ployed in their lumbering operations in that locality. Nearly 

 every ablebodied citizen in the upper part of the TOone valley was 

 was engaged. Temporary camps were erected, fire lines built, 

 back fires set, and the spread of the fire checked. Owing to the 

 limited amount of help the fire was attacked on the side in which 

 it was advancing on account of the wind, and the most valuable 

 areas received first consideration. 



Exaggerated reports were published in regard to the large loss 

 of timber in the vicinity of Elk lake, while, as a matter of fact, 

 only a few acres of second growth, which were burned by a back 

 fire, were damaged in that locality. The valuable hotel property 



