31 and wear large shirts. Alarms to fires have

31 and wear large shirts. Alarms to fires have been numerous in the county recently. The windy weather had dried the fields and foliage until the slightest spark runs wild. Forest Warden Raymond Johnson, said Monday night that the fire tower on Red Oak Mountain is being manned. This is the first time in his more than 21 years with the Forest Service that it has been necessary to open the tower this early. There have been times when it was opened the last two days of February. A large area north of the Town of Washington was burned over Saturday, and a half acre near Skyline Ski Area was also burned that day. The blaze at the ski area was brought quickly under control by Front Royal firemen. The fire near town was a major engagement for Washington, Sperryville and Flint Hill Fire companies as flames clamored through the dry grass and bounded up trees in the thickets. The house of Mr. and Mrs. W, A. Miller was in jeopardy as the fire licked its way to a board fence only a matter of yards away. However, it was arrested at the fence line there, but succeeded in forcing its way right up to the hay barn on the Miller farm before firemen halted its rapid advance. A ledge of snow at the rear of the barn probably aided in saving the barn filled with hay from the eager flames