The majority of homeless families moved in with relatives.

On September 2 the CNR Station at Port Hill and the village of Tyne Valley were in danger. Station Agent Lloyd Darrach removed all the Railway records, to safety. Four patients were moved from Stewart Memorial Health Centre to Prince County Hospital. Men, women and children were carrying dishes, ice boxes and other belongings from their homes. In the evening, the fire appeared to be in check within yards of

some houses.

Over the Labor Day weekend the Catholic Church in Foxley River and St. Peters Anglican Church in Lot 11 were both in danger along with areas in all surrounding communities. For a time, the village of Ellerslie was in the direct path of one fire and it was feared that the fire fighting headquarters would have to be evacuated. RCMP radio patrols main— tained communications with their control car at Ellerslie directing men and equipment to fight outbreaks as emergencies developed. Premier Shaw said the Department of Public Works office would remain open twenty—four hours a day for workers needing information or additional material. On Sunday, September 4, flames crossed the highway between Ellerslie and Tyne Valley advancing toward Bideford and the adjoining district of Tyne Valley. Neighbours helped Stenning Williams combine a large field of grain that was in danger. Tanker truck crews wetted down the trees at the edge of the woods bordering the grain field. Elderly peo— ple were taken to a safer location. Others stayed on the alert for live embers. A tanker truck and crew remained near one home, wetting down dry areas until a shift of wind and a light shower of rain brought relief.

On September 7, fresh winds caused fires to again break out of control over a wide area around Conway. Bideford Church was in danger sever- al times and many homes in Bideford were threatened. Bulldozers were rushed to the scene and put up firebreaks surrounding the wooded area. The road between Ellerslie and Tyne Valley was extremely dangerous for travelling with visibility almost zero. A helicopter was procured from Greenwood, Nova Scotia at the request of the Provincial Government to permit faster coverage of danger areas.

The RCAF gave much valuable assistance by providing many airmen and a great deal of equipment, some of which was flown in from NeW Brunswick, some from Canadian National Railways and some frOII1 Montreal. The RCAF. served at least one hot meal a day to more than one hundred and 50 personnel from the Summerside RCAF Station. The men

102 Roors & BRANCHES