One hundred and ten years ago this summer, Haines was surrounded by fire.
After a few dry months in the spring of 1916, on July 3rd, a fire broke out on the edge of town. Reports are mixed about who or where it started, but the blaze quickly became an inferno that scorched the entire south-facing slope of Mount Ripinsky, burning down several homes, including five ranches. Crews held the fire line just north of…