The Metz Fire of 1908

The Metz Fire of 1908. Site No. 1. , The Metz Fire of 1908 began west of Millersburg sometime on the morning of October 15, 1908. Driven along by gale force winds, by that night the fire had burned all the way to the Lake Huron shore and threatened to destroy the two lighthouses at Presque Isle. The cone-shaped area outlined in the heavy black line on the map shows the extent of the fire. Within that zone, however, there were many areas that did not burn. , Along the way, Millersburg, Hawks, Belknap, Hagensville, Posen, Long Rapids, Alpena, and Rogers City had been threatened. The villages of South Rogers, Bolton, Cathro, and Metz had literally been incinerated. In addition, between 200,000 and 300,000 acres of forest and farmland was burned, making it the third worst forest fire in the history of the state. , Thirty-seven people died in the fire. The village of Metz and the surrounding area of Metz Township got hit the hardest. Twenty-four people died there and 84 of 110 families in the township were left homeless. In most cases the families also lost their barns, outbuildings, tools, and livestock. Many were left with only the clothes they were wearing that day. All of the structures in the village of Metz were destroyed. In northern Alpena County, 50 houses and 75 barns were destroyed, along with 6 country schools. , The cause of the fire was never determined. It may have been started by a farmer burning brush, a carelessly discarded cigar, sparks from a passing steam locomotive, or a lightning strike.