Stories of Dance fire sought for book

In addition to planning a memorial to commemorate the 17 lives lost in the Dance fire in October, 1938, a local committee also would like to have a book written about the tragedy.
“More and more people are coming forward with stories and we’d really like to compile them all,” said committee member Donna Haglin.
She noted local writer Neil McQuarrie has offered to author the book.
“We’d just like to put a plea out to people to write down their stories and submit them,” Haglin added, noting it doesn’t matter whether they are from survivors of the fire or family members.
“We want to include as much detail and as many stories as possible,” echoed committee member Roseanne Farmer.
Meanwhile, plans to construct a monument at a location along Highway 613 North—very close to where the majority of the lives were lost—are coming along.
The committee would like to have a dedication and unveiling of the monument on Oct. 10, followed by a reception and social time at the Dance Hall.
“We really want the survivors to be a part of it,” Farmer stressed.
With about 20 survivors ranging in age from 71 to 90, the committee wants to ensure a memorial takes place on this 70th anniversary.
“If we can’t make it happen this year, who knows how many survivors will be left?” Farmer wondered.
It was on Thanksgiving Day in 1938 that land-clearing fires in Dance Township grew out of control due to drought conditions, advancing winds, and unseasonably warm fall temperatures.
The seven fires burning in the township merged and formed one large blaze, which ended up burning 74,049 acres of valuable timber, residences, and business.
It also claimed the lives of 12 members of the LaBelle family, three members of the Fyle family, and one member each of both the Fults and Larson families.
Another 18 people required medical attention for burns and eye injuries from ash.
“Dance changed after that,” Haglin remarked. “It was the most devastating fire in the history of this area.”
Anyone with stories of the fire are asked to e-mail their submissions to info@dancefire1938.com or donna1953@sympatico.ca
They can also be mailed to P.O. Box 115, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
More information is available at www.dancefire1938.com