Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Ludington Daily News, Wednesday, October 8, 1958 Metz Forest Fire Ranked as One of Worst in Nation ------------------- METZ (AP) - Today markes the 50th anniversary of Michigan's worst forest fire - a fire, which claimed at least 44 lives and de- stroyed more than 2 1/2 million acres of timber in Alpena and Presque Isle counties. The blaze has become known as the Metz fire, largely because this Presque Isle community was de- stroyed. Fifteen villagers lost their lives aboard a train that was sup- posed to carry them to safety. The wave of public indignation following the holocaust resulted in the creation of the State Conserva- tion Commission. When the Legis- lature convened in 1909 it created the Michigan Public Domain Com- mission whose primary responsibility was to set up a fire defense system for public and private forest lands. In 1921, the new commission and several other state outdoor depart- ments were merged into the pre- sent State Conservation Commission. Conditions prior to the Metz blaze were similar to conditions present in state forests today. Surviving witnesses say the sum- mer of 1908 was dry and timber- lands were ripe for fire. On Oct. 15, 1908, field workers noticed wisps of smoke coming from nearby woods. The smoke suddenly deepened and a black pall of clouds loomed up toward Millerburg and Onaway. Many thought it was a long awaited rain - no one knew that in five hours 200 Metz villagers would be homeless as a raging forest fire swept through the community. Later a hot wind laden with ashes blew across the fields. Grass fires burst out and red streaks broke through the smoke darkened skies. Hot embers sailed through the skies starting fires in Metz as vil- lagers formed bucket brigades in a futile effort to put them out. One survivor, Peter Montych, 77, recalled that villagers gave up fighting the fires around 2 p.m. Word was passed that a relief train was enroute from Detroit to take survivors to safety. Some 40 or 50 residents piled onto the train. Montych decided to remain in Metz. The relief train was derailed about a mile and a half from Metz. Its cars became a flaming inferno. Fifteen women and children per- ished in a gondola car before they could be taken to momentary safety. Today Metz is a peaceful vil- lage. But survivors can show memorials and ruins testifying to the grim fire that ranks with the Chicago fire as one of the nation's worst disasters. ===========================================================================