Tale of fort almost burning down part of Candlelight & Campfire

On the night of Sept. 26, 1844, the whole familiar history-to-be of Vancouver and Clark County nearly went up in smoke. How would this community have grown — what would this community have become — if fire had erased from the map this early, remote anchor of the growing United States of America?

There was precious little rain at Fort Vancouver that summer, according to the meticulous records kept by the employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company. And on Sept. 24, a plume of dark smoke was spotted rising to the east. Chief Factor John McLoughlin was away in the Willamette Valley, where fires were also raging, and Chief Trader James Douglas, who was in charge, wrote that “a dense cloud of smoke, indicating the existence of an extensive fire, was observed rising from the banks of the river at some distance to the eastward.”

Men snapped into action. Trenches were dug, and water was carted from the river. By the end of the next day, Douglas was feeling confident that the fire was “completely subdued.”

But that turned out to be a dress rehearsal. An even greater mass of smoke was seen rising from the Camas plain about 6 miles northeast of the fort, and Douglas rode out to take a look. The outlook was even worse than before, he reported. Expect to be “assailed at all points,” he warned.

Again, everybody got busy. Men were dispatched to protect barns and mills; barriers composed of casks of water were positioned around the fort’s livestock feed. They did everything they could think of. Then, they waited in terror.

“Having thus made the best preparations in our power, to meet the assault of (the fire), a period of the most painful suspense followed, while we listened, in perfect impotence, to its frightful ravages in the forest, which came upon the ear like the beating of the distant ocean.”

What was that like? How did it feel?

You can find out on the afternoon and evening of Sept. 10, as the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site offers its annual Campfires & Candlelight outing — and caps it off with a living history demonstration by costumed re-enactors who’ll portray specific people who were there on that fateful night.

Backward in time

Before that, beginning at 4 p.m., you’ll be able to stroll backward in time, through the site’s history, as you approach the fort. Costumed re-enactors from Living History Group Northwest, Buffalo Soldiers Northwest Chapter, the First Oregon Volunteer Cavalry and Infantry and the National Park Service itself will host camps representing both world wars, our own Civil and Indian wars, the Buffalo Soldiers at Vancouver Barracks, the Hudson’s Bay Company settlement and the arrival of settlers via the Oregon Trail. They’ll be eager to chat, show off their gear and even play historical games.

And then you arrive in the 1840s. The gates of the fort will open at 5 p.m., and the fire drama will begin. It’s a new presentation for the fort, and acting chief ranger Bob Cromwell said it’s both exciting and still relevant today.

“Campfires & Candlelight is one of our favorite events, and it’s our pleasure to bring it to the community year after year,” he said.

A little help

OK, but what happened? Rest easy. We’re here, aren’t we?

It was a close call, though. A hot easterly wind drove the fire to within 300 feet of the fort. Five barns that were just a short way over there — in the meadow that’s now across the street from Pearson Air Museum — went up in flames. Women and children escaped across the river. So did some men. Money and documents were also sent across the water for safekeeping.

One key factor in defeating the fire was the arrival of a band of men led by Chief Kiesno, an important Chinook leader, who joined the firefighting effort in the early hours of Sept. 27.

The next day, the fire had consumed what fuel it could. The danger had passed.