Among the many challenges faced by Otter Tail County pioneers were prairie fires. Thick prairie grass combined with newly sown crops and a constant wind gave even the smallest fire fuel to move swiftly and deadly. Consider the following story from the October 20, 1876, Fergus Falls Weekly Journal:

“One of the most remarkable instances of suffering and loss by prairie fire occurred on the flats about four miles this side of Campbell Station. It appears that Auden Johnson and H.P. Stevens while on their way to Campbell Station with a wagon loaded with wheat saw a furious fire approaching from the southwest. They thought it prudent to set a back fire but the advancing flames came upon them so rapidly that before they succeeded in lighting a match the demon was upon them. They threw themselves on their faces in the grass and the roaring and mad sea of flame swept over them. It was a terrible moment. Mr. Stevens gives a very intelligent account of the case. He says they deliberately fell on their faces knowing it was their only hope, but that for a time they abandoned all hope of their lives. Johnson and Stevens survived but their condition was severe.”

Even new technological innovations were a cause for concern. The threshing machine was a wonderful invention that greatly increased the amount of wheat farmers could harvest. Powered by wood or coal fueled steam engines an errant spark or ember sometimes led to deadly consequences. In October 1909, the Fergus Falls Daily Journal reported:

“The town of Western was visited by one of the most destructive prairie fires ever known in this country. The fire originated from the ashes left by a threshing engine at the Williams place, and once it started it swept over the prairie destroying everything in its path.”