Clearwater County Fire Hit by Tree Fatality 1935

Carl A. Carlson, a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) crewmember stationed at Camp P-269 near Headquarters, Idaho, on Washington Creek was killed by a falling limb or tree. On his death certificate, Carlson is listed as an 18-year-old gardener. However, convincing evidence indicates that he may actually have been 16 years old. On August 9, 1935, a fire was reported in forested land on Scofield and Beaver Creek, burning in timber and slash on lands owned by the lumber company, Potlatch Forests, Inc. A total of approximately 1,000 firefighters were mobilized to fight this fire, which was initially driven by high winds and burned close to 1,000 acres. Carlson was struck by a falling tree or limb and suffered numerous traumatic injuries. These were listed on his death certificate as: "extensive compound skull fracture of both right and left side, broken tibia and fibula above the ankle, and femur fracture." The accident is listed as occurring at 0535 hours on August 11. Carlson reportedly died from to his injuries within the next few hours.