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Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Forest Fires Raging in Watauga County, April 29, 1920

From The Watauga Democrat, Dedicated to the Interests of Boone, and Watauga County, Thursday, April 29, 1920

Forest Fires Raging

The latter part of last week, during the dry, windy days, forest fires swept great areas of Watauga forests. Friday a fire was started on the railroad right of way near Mr. R.R. Colvard’s, supposedly by a spark from a passing engine, and within a very short while had spread largely over the wood lands of the Winklers, but, thanks to the efforts of a band of fire fighters, the loss, aside from the damage done to standing timber and a small amount of fencing destroyed, the loss was light. Mr. Colvard lost pulp wood to the amount of approximately $100.

The same day, a spark of fire from a railroad engine fired a barn on the farm formerly owned by Mr. Joseph Phipps at Foscoe, and the building was soon destroyed.

We hear also that fire went wild from the steam drill on the Boone Trail Highway and the Sands section had a big proposition to hold the flames in check, and save much property from destruction.


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