Divine Deliverance of Emigrant Company from Prairie Fire

“The guard aroused me shortly before midnight, and directed my attention to a bright red glow which appeared along the western horizon. The wind was blowing strongly, and it soon became evident that, by accident or design, the grass had been ignited some miles distant, and that a terrific prairie fire was approaching at a rate that would bring it into our vicinity in less than half an hour. Our heavy wagons were in deep sand, and our teams miles away. A hasty consultation was held and it was determined, in the faint hope of averting the impending calamity, to burn the grass to the leeward, and by the flames creeping back remove it and provide an open space which would afford protection to our train. I was in the act of striking a match to engage in this duty when I felt a few drops of water. Suddenly the shower opened, and for fifteen minutes the rain came down in torrents. The line of fire which had been sweeping toward us with such appalling rapidity diminished in volume, and in a brief space of time every vestige of flames had been extinguished. The prairie fire had approached to within half a mile of our camp, but the hand of Providence had interposed for our salvation.”

— B. T., The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star