Fire Timeline Notes
Fire Timeline
1860- Native populations decline and begin to be restricted to reservations- decrease in indigenous fires
1908- Forest Fire Emergency Act- Permitted deficit spending to fight fire
1910- 3 million acres burn in Northern Idaho and Western Montana
The fires of 1910 shaped ideas, fears, policy and management
1924- Aldo Leopold argues that fire is an important natural process
1935- Forest service 10am policy established
1943- Harold Weaver (Burro of Indian Affairs) writes about the negative effects of fire suppression
1949- Mann Gulch fire kills 13 firefighters
1960’s- Research on the ecological role and benefits of fire is ramping up
1968- National Park Service changes policies to allow lightning fires to burn if they don’t threaten human life or facilities.
1971- Forest service makes a few exceptions to 10am fire policy in large wilderness areas and allows for Forest service renames the Division of fire control, the division of fire management.
1973- National forest management act requires forest planning and reinforces multiple use/values of forest.
1978- Forest Service revised fire policy to allow all forests to allow some lightning fires to burn and to conduct prescribed burning
1988- The fires of Yellowstone burn 80,000 Acers. 45% of park
The Evolution of U.S Fire Policy
Fire is destructive, a problem, and all fires need to be suppressed/extinguished as soon as possible.
Some fire might be required for ecosystem health, fire does important ecological work
Fire suppression causes more fuel build-up and may increase the frequency of larger and more intense fires.
Some lightning fires should be allowed to burn (If they don’t threaten people or private property).
Land managers should do some prescribed burning to mimic the ecological effects of wildfire and reduce fuels.
Thinning forests may be important to reduce fuels and to establish conditions that allow for prescribed burning.
Challenges to Restore Fire
More intense, larger
1860- Native populations decline and begin to be restricted to reservations- decrease in indigenous fires
1908- Forest Fire Emergency Act- Permitted deficit spending to fight fire
1910- 3 million acres burn in Northern Idaho and Western Montana
The fires of 1910 shaped ideas, fears, policy and management
1924- Aldo Leopold argues that fire is an important natural process
1935- Forest service 10am policy established
1943- Harold Weaver (Burro of Indian Affairs) writes about the negative effects of fire suppression
1949- Mann Gulch fire kills 13 firefighters
1960’s- Research on the ecological role and benefits of fire is ramping up
1968- National Park Service changes policies to allow lightning fires to burn if they don’t threaten human life or facilities.
1971- Forest service makes a few exceptions to 10am fire policy in large wilderness areas and allows for Forest service renames the Division of fire control, the division of fire management.
1973- National forest management act requires forest planning and reinforces multiple use/values of forest.
1978- Forest Service revised fire policy to allow all forests to allow some lightning fires to burn and to conduct prescribed burning
1988- The fires of Yellowstone burn 80,000 Acers. 45% of park
The Evolution of U.S Fire Policy
Fire is destructive, a problem, and all fires need to be suppressed/extinguished as soon as possible.
Some fire might be required for ecosystem health, fire does important ecological work
Fire suppression causes more fuel build-up and may increase the frequency of larger and more intense fires.
Some lightning fires should be allowed to burn (If they don’t threaten people or private property).
Land managers should do some prescribed burning to mimic the ecological effects of wildfire and reduce fuels.
Thinning forests may be important to reduce fuels and to establish conditions that allow for prescribed burning.
Challenges to Restore Fire
More intense, larger