Civil Defence Chief Orrin R. Simons of Charlottetown , with volunteers from the and Defence personnel controlled food, trans¬ portation and communications from headquarters at the Ellerslie Legion Home. Fire fighting operations were highly organized under the supervi¬ sion of Provincial Fire Marshal Earle MacLeod . All available equipment in the line of bulldozers and earth-moving machines, owned by government or contractors, was used to cut fire breaks. Pumpers and other equipment from all other Fire Departments in were standing by or in use. A pumper and crew from the Charlottetown Fire Department was sent to Ellerslie to be available for duty along with the city's water cart which rendered valuable service. The crew had their own house trailer hauled to Ellerslie for use as head¬ quarters and sleeping accommodation. Several army personnel from Charlottetown were also on hand. Three pumpers had arrived from the Gagetown army camp making more than 20 pumpers on the job. Over 30 portable fire pumpers and a great many tankers and bulldozers were in the area with approximately eight hundred men in various capacities. Over six miles of hose was brought in for use. At times, travel on the was extremely dangerous and difficult due to smoke and flames. From Northam to Portage across the Island's width, a choking grey cloud covered the area. It was declared a Health Hazard Area by the Hon. Hubert McNeill , Minister of Health. Special police cars rushed to the scene with respirators. The situation was reported to be very grave. All available officers and radio patrol cars were moved into the area. The RCMP took over the Freeland school as a head¬ quarters and sleeping quarters. They patrolled the roads day and night. All Provincial Parks, campgrounds and picnic areas were to be vacated and closed. The road between Portage and Foxley River became impassable. On several occasions in the Black Banks area bulldozers constructing fire¬ breaks were almost trapped, surrounded by flames that burst out of the ground from the smoldering peat bog. Four operators barely escaped. Responding to a report that a number of people were trapped by fire in the Foxley River area, two Alberton fishing boats and a cabin cruiser crossed and sailed up both branches of Foxley River but were unable to locate anyone looking for evacuation by water. Later it was learned that people were able to get to the Foxley River School and stayed there for a few days. In conversation with Frank Bulger of Foxley River , the fishermen were told that several homes had been burned. While on the shore, they saw a barn go up in flames and cattle running across the field. Chapter Four ~ Moving On 101