MTFCA Forum

https://www.loc.gov/resource/anrc.14769/

Very interesting photo, especially since I live in Sanilac County. Our county is mostly rural although we have 42 miles of shoreline on Lake Huron with numerous summer homes. Interesting also is that our region was the first to have aid sent to us by the embryonic Red Cross after the devastating fire of 1881. I quote "The organization's first official disaster relief operation was its response to the Michigan "Thumb Fire" of 1881. The Red Cross provided money, clothes and household items. The fire caused more than 14,000 people to be dependent on public aid. It also destroyed over 2,000 barns, dwellings, and schools."

The number of lives lost will never be known. Whole families disappeared. Contemporary reports describe one incident where the fire advanced so fast that it overcame a galloping team of horses pulling a wagon load of people, devouring all.

My family arrived in Michigan from Denmark in 1882 and bought a large section of burned-off land to build a farm. With the forest gone, breaking the land was easier. My grandfather talked about how even the tree roots burned underground for some distance. It was from this farm that they bought their first car, a 1917 Ford Touring.

Interesting sad story Tim. That had to be horrific for those in the wagon being consumed by the fire. My county and other areas around are called "The Firelands" for a similar reason altho our fires were from being burned out by the British. Half a million acres were given to "sufferers" in this area as I guess you call it reparations.

The 1881 fire in the Thumb followed 10 years after another big fire. Interestingly, that fire was at the same time as the Chicago Fire and the Peshtigo Fire.... They think burning embers were carried hundreds of miles by the winds to ignite the Thumb fire.

Getting back to 1881 - I know some of you attended the Michigan Jamboree in 2021 - our routes took us thru large areas of farmland that prior to the fires, were dense forests.

Yes I did attend that Jamboree. It was great as was the scenery. I especially enjoyed the travel along the lakeshore having been an avid boater for over 50 years as well as a licensed captain.

Oldav8tor wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 03, 2024 8:11 pm

The 1881 fire in the Thumb followed 10 years after another big fire. Interestingly, that fire was at the same time as the Chicago Fire and the Peshtigo Fire.... They think burning embers were carried hundreds of miles by the winds to ignite the Thumb fire.

I believe it! Thirty-five to forty years ago, we were living in Livermore, California, When a devastating fire ripped though the Oakland Hills destroying hundreds of homes. The winds were enough to push the fire up the crowded hills, but really not all that strong or fast. We were about forty miles away with a small mountain range between us. I still remember it like it was yesterday. It was a weekend, so I was at home, and watched as still glowing embers dropped into our yard and driveway! I was really surprised that more fires were not started by the embers falling.
Strong winds?

A team of horses pulling a wagon? Even in a panic driven full run their top speed is likely under 30 mph. Fires get pushed slightly less than wind speed, so a 40 mph wind could overtake the wagon and horses. Certainly a horrible way to go.

I guess I kinda hijacked the thread. However, I referred the photo to our local historical society who is going to put it out in their online newsletter.

The Thumb of Michigan was once home to dense forest and was a prime target of the early lumber industry. I live near Forester - up the road is Forestville.... you get the picture. A couple dry years, lots of twigs, branches and "slash" from the lumbering and conditions were ripe for fire. Both fires saw gale force winds, and the fires crowned - jumping rapidly from tree to tree (of those still standing.) The stories make for good reading but there was much tragedy. There were several cases where families took refuge in their wells, only to die of asphyxiation when the fire burned the oxygen out of the air. Some took refuge in the lake and rivers with mixed success. One man spent the night in a river, back to back with another man wearing a fur coat. When the Sun came up he discovered the fur-coated man was a bear! Out on Lake Huron the dense smoke was a hazard to shipping. Here is a link to a great story linking the all the fires in 1871 <https://thumbwind.com/2021/10/06/great-lakes-fire-1871/>