When the Mountains Roared
“The fire by this time was an awe-inspiring spectacle, the whole horizon to the west was aflame and the noise caused by the falling timber was terrific.” - Roy A. Phillips, Lolo Forest Guard
One of the most devastating fire seasons in the history of the United States began like any other. The 1910 Fires started with smoldering campfires, sparks from locomotives and a few lightning-caused fires. The many small fires grew larger and spread quickly. When the ferocious winds hit in late August, witnesses said the mountains roared.
As flames swallowed up the mountains and valleys around them, the 200 residents of Taft rolled whiskey barrels into the street and dismissed the young forest rangers trying to recruit them to help save their town. Finally facing the deadly threat of the fires, most of these people quickly boarded trains for Missoula, leaving their emptied town in flames.
Exploring the area that once was the site of Taft, imagine a wall of fire raging down the mountain, ash and cinders falling all around you like snow and the sky darkening to an eerie yellow. Can you hear the mountains roar?
Marker can be reached from Rainy Creek Road (Federal Road 506) 2 miles south of Exit 5 (Taft) (Interstate 90).
Courtesy hmdb.org
