CAMPBELLVILLE
Tehama County - California Department of Forestry - 25N-2E-20
April 22, 1922: "Almost unprecedented in the record of forest service activities in northern California at this early season is the fire now burning in the timber near Polk Springs, thirty miles northeast of Chico, in a region surrounded by snow banks and virtually inaccessible to the outside world. Ranger W.L. Slater sighted the blaze from the Campbelville lookout station, burning along the east side of Deer Creek canyon, about ten miles from the point of observation. From all he could see Slater believed the flames had already burned over one hundred acres. Fanned by a breeze the fire was moving along at a dangerous pace.
Slater immediately telephoned to C.E. Dunston, supervisor of Lassen National forest here, with a view to dispatching a squad to the scene. Regardless of the fact he had only grub enough to last one day, Slater said he started out on horseback to fight the flames, but soon encountered big snow banks and was forced to abandon the trip from that angle.
Supervisor Dunston today hurriedly arranged to have Ranger C.F. Conrad leave Red Bluff with a quantity of fire-fighting tools. The latter went to Vina where he was to meet Ranger Slater and Assistant Ranger Frank B. Delaney, with a number of men they have meanwhile picked up, and proceed from there along the Big Dry creek and Deer creek to the forest fire. Dunston said he expected they would experience more or less trouble getting to the blaze, due to the heavy snow still lying in the district, and he would not be surprised if they were three or four days reaching there and putting the flames under control." (Red Bluff Daily News)
Slater immediately telephoned to C.E. Dunston, supervisor of Lassen National forest here, with a view to dispatching a squad to the scene. Regardless of the fact he had only grub enough to last one day, Slater said he started out on horseback to fight the flames, but soon encountered big snow banks and was forced to abandon the trip from that angle.
Supervisor Dunston today hurriedly arranged to have Ranger C.F. Conrad leave Red Bluff with a quantity of fire-fighting tools. The latter went to Vina where he was to meet Ranger Slater and Assistant Ranger Frank B. Delaney, with a number of men they have meanwhile picked up, and proceed from there along the Big Dry creek and Deer creek to the forest fire. Dunston said he expected they would experience more or less trouble getting to the blaze, due to the heavy snow still lying in the district, and he would not be surprised if they were three or four days reaching there and putting the flames under control." (Red Bluff Daily News)
May 3, 1922: "W.A. Stall pleaded guilty today to the charge of setting fire to brush in the Polk Springs district, 30 miles northeast of Chico, and Justice of the Peace E.F. Lennon fined him $50, which he paid. Stall was arrested by Forest Rangers W.L. Slater and H.M. Burket of Magalia station. In company with J.E. Elliott, deputy supervisor of Lassen National Forest, the two rangers, with packs on their backs, walked 15 miles from the Campbellville lookout station to Polk Springs. Slater sighted the fire several days ago.
Stall made no attempt to conceal the part he had taken in starting the blaze. He told the forest rangers that, with the consent of his employer, Thomas Polk, he burned a brush pile with a view to removing danger from fire later in the season when it became very dry. As there was snow on the ground, Stall figured the blaze would not spread. To his surprise, however, the fire started to run, and burned over about 800 acres before it was finally placed under control." (Red Bluff Daily News)
Removed
April 25, 2014: The lookout site and five acres of forest land were listed on a California Department of General Services excess properties under review for state use listing, for possible sale. (from the named publication)
April 25, 2014: The lookout site and five acres of forest land were listed on a California Department of General Services excess properties under review for state use listing, for possible sale. (from the named publication)
