The Metz Fire of 1908 began west of Millersburg sometime on the morning of October 15, 1908, and driven by gale force winds, burned by that night all the way to the Lake Huron shore and threatened the two lighthouses at Presque Isle. Although many areas within its cone-shaped burn zone did not burn, it threatened Millersburg, Hawks, Belknap, Hagensville, Posen, Long Rapids, Alpena, and Rogers City, while the villages of South Rogers, Bolton, Cathro, and Metz were incinerated. Between 200,000 and 300,000 acres of forest and farmland burned, making it the third worst forest fire in the state's history, and 37 people died. The village of Metz and the surrounding area of Metz Township suffered most severely, with 24 deaths there and 84 of 110 families left homeless, often losing their barns, outbuildings, tools, livestock, and nearly everything except the clothes they were wearing. All structures in the village of Metz were destroyed, and in northern Alpena County 50 houses, 75 barns, and 6 country schools were destroyed. The cause of the fire was never determined, though possible sources included a farmer burning brush, a carelessly discarded cigar, sparks from a passing steam locomotive, or a lightning strike.