The Porcupine Fire

Photo by Debbie Gagain and Robert Staniforth - October 31, 2005

Plaque Location

The District of Cochrane
The City of Timmins
On the grounds of Northern College, Highway 101, Porcupine, Timmins

Plaque Text

In the summer of 1911, when the Porcupine gold rush was at its height the weather was hot and dry. On July 11, galeforce winds from the southwest whipped individual bush fires into a 16-km sea of flames that swiftly engulfed the drought-parched forest. The fire-storm swept through mining camps, razed the towns of South Porcupine and Pottsville, and partially destroyed Golden City (Porcupine) and Porquis Junction. Many people fled into Porcupine Lake to escape the flames. The blaze laid waste to about 200,000 hectares of forest and killed at least seventy-one people. Communities throughout Ontario responded generously with aid, and in a remarkably short time the towns were rebuilt and the mines back in operation.

Here's More
Information

Related pages:
Great Fire of 1916
Great Fire of 1922

---

Here are the comments for this page.

(none yet)

Write a comment for this page.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).