An article that appeared in the Sunbury Daily Item of October 17, 1924, reported that a major cause of forest fires in Pennsylvania was the burning of crosses by the Ku Klux Klan and their failure to completely extinguish the fires before ending their meetings. The article also noted that the major fire season usually begins in October when the leaves fall from the trees and lay dry on the ground creating the opportunity for a fire to spread rapidly.
Interestingly, the article appeared only days before the Great Gratz Fire which occurred on November 3, 1924. Some evidence has recently been seen that the fire was the result of a cross burning in the area of the Union House in the main square of the town. The first building that went up in flames was the Union House and the fire rapidly spread to other structures eventually destroying much of the center of the town. No “official” cause of the fire was ever given.
GUARD FORESTS DAY AND NIGHT
Although the Autumnal forest fire season has not been as severe as usual for this period, the Department of Forests and Waters this week ordered every fire observation tower in the State to be manned day and night until the snows fall and make future fires unlikely.
October 15 is usually the date when the Fall forest fire hazard becomes most acute, for then the dead leaves begin falling in great numbers and increase the likelihood of spread of fire.
Fires reported thus far have been few and scattered, indicating no particular danger zone in the State at present unless there should be a protracted period of dry weather. Reports this week show there have been forest fires in Lycoming and Clarion Counties and near White Haven.
A new fire cause has been listed this year, fire protection officers of the department say, for most of the fires which have been reported this year have been due to burning of crosses by the Ku Klux Klan, wardens’ reports state. The fires were due to the Klan meetings adjourning before extinguishing the embers of the crosses, which ignited leaves and forests nearby.
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Article from Newspapers.com.
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