Prairie Fires

          From the time the grass would burn, which was soon after the first frost, usually about the 1^st of October, till the surrounding prairie was all burnt over, or, if not all burnt, till the green grass in the spring had grown sufficient to prevent the rapid progress of the fire, the early settlers were continually on the watch, and as they usually expressed the idea, slept with one eye open. When the ground was covered with snow, or during rainy weather, the apprehension was quieted, and both eyes could be safely closed. A statue law forbade setting the prairie on fire, and one doing so was subject to penalty, and liable to an action of trespass, for the damage occurring; but convictions were seldom effected, as proof was difficult to obtain, though there were frequent fires. Those started on the leeward side of an improvement, while dangerous to property to the leeward, were not so to property to the windward, as fire progressing against the wind is easily extinguished, and the temptation to start one of these fires for some trivial purpose was often quite irresistible.

            Various means were resorted to for protection. A common one was to plow several furrows around a strip, several rods wide, outside the improvements, and then burnout the inside of this strip, or to wait until the prairie was on fire and then set fire outside of this furrowing, reserving the inner strip for a late burn, i.e., until the following summer, and in July burn both old grass and new. The grass would start afresh immediately, and the cattle would feed it close in preference to the older grass, so that the fire would not pass over it in the following autumn. This process repeated would soon, or in a few years, run out the prairie grass, which in time would be replaced by blue-grass, which will not burn to any serious extent. But all this took time and labor, and the crowd  of business on the hands of a new settler, of which a novice has no conception, would prevent him doing what would now seem a small matter; and even when accomplished, all such precautions often proved futile. A prairie fire driven by a high wind would often leap such barriers and seem to put human effort at defiance.

            A prairie fire when first started, goes straight forward with a velocity proportioned to the force of the wind, widening as it goes, but the center keeping ahead; it spreads sideways, but burning laterally, it makes but comparatively slow progress, and if the wind is moderate and steady, this spreading fire is not difficult to manage; but if the wind veers a point or two, first one way and then the other, it sends this side fire beyond control. The head fire in dry grass and a head wind is a fearful thing, and pretty sure to have its own way unless there is some defensible point to meet it. A contest with such a fire requires such skill and tact as can be learned only be experience, and a neighborhood of settlers called out by such an exigency at once put themselves under the direction of the oldest and most experienced of their number, and go to work with the alacrity and energy of men defending their homes and property from destruction.

            The usual way of meeting advancing fires was to begin the defense where the head of the fire would strike, which was calculated by the smoke and ashes brought by the wind along in advance of fire. A road, cattle-path, or furrow is of great value at such a place; if there was not such, a strip of the grass was wetted down if water could be procured, which was, however, a rather scarce article at the time of the annual fire. On the side, nearest the coming fire, of such a road or path, the grass is set on fire, which burns slowly against the wind until it meets the coming conflagration, which latter stops, of course, for want of fuel, provided there has been sufficient time to burn over a strip that cannot be leaped by the head fires as it comes in. This is called back-firing; but in this method, great care must be exercised to prevent the fire getting over the furrow or path, or whatever is used as the base of operations. If it gets in the rear of this and once under way, there is no remedy but to fall back to a more defensible position. The head of the fire successfully checked the force of fore-fighters divide, part going to the right and part to the left, and the back-firing continues to meet the side fires as they come up. This must be continues until the fire is checked along the entire front of the premises endangered, and the sides secured.

            Various implements were used to put out a side or back fire, or even the head of a fire in a moderate wind. A fence board, four to six feet long, with one end shaved down for a handle, was very effective when struck flat upon the narrow strip of fire. A bundle of hazel brush, a spade or shovel were often used with effect. The women frequently lent their aid, and dexterously wielded the mop, which, when thoroughly wet, proved a very efficient weapon. Especially in extinguishing a fire in the fence. When the fire overcame all opposition, and seemed bound to sweep over the settlement, a fear of personal loss would paralyze for the moment every faculty, and as soon as the danger seemed imminent, united effort ceased, and each one hastened to defend his own as best he could. It is due to historical truth to say that actual losses were much less than might have been expected, though frequently quite severe. The physical efforts made in extinguishing a dangerous fire, and protecting one’s home from this devouring element, were of the most trying nature, not unfrequently resulting fatally.

            The premises about the residence and yards being trampled down by the family and domestic animals, after a year or two became tolerably safe from fire, but the fences, corn and stubble fields were often attacked. When the open land was all fenced and under cultivation, so that these fires were a thing of the past, the residents of prairie were happily released from the constant apprehension which for years had disturbed their peace by night and caused anxiety by day, though the early settlers still retain vivid recollections of the grand illuminations nightly exhibited in dry weather, from early fall to late spring, by numberless prairie fires. The whole horizon would be lighted up around its entire circuit.  A heavy fire six or seven miles away would afford sufficient light in a dark night to enable one to read fine print. When a fire had passed through the prairie, leaving the long lines of side fires like two armies facing each other, the sight at night was sublime; and if one’s premises were securely protected, and he could enjoy the exhibition without apprehension, it was a sight well worth going far to see.

Source: Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana. F.A. Battey & Co., 1883.