Salt Lake Tribune | 1919-08-22 | Page 18 | Says Forest Blazes due to Incendiarism

SAYS FOREST BLAZES DUE TO INCENDIARISM Following a personal examination of more than fifty fire-fighters in Idaho, who were unanimous in their belief that practically all of the forest fires in that state were of incendiary origin, a special force of investigators has been deputized by the United States land office to run down the offenders. Ralph S. Kelley, chief of the field service covering this territory, has just returned from a ten days' survey of tho situation in Idaho. "I personally cross-examined at least fifty men who came back from the fire line," Mr. Kelley said, "and they practically practi-cally all agreed that the fires were started by stockmen. Therefore, I have sworn in eight special deputies, who will range the country outside of the forest reserves in an effort to catch these incendiaries. in-cendiaries. Besides that, I find it advisable advis-able to maintain about 100 men in the field until the fall rains come, as there is constant danger until the country is thoroughly wet down."