Key dates
1905—The U.S. Forest Service is founded, in part to protect forests from fire and from "exploiters" like poachers, loggers, and livestock grazers.June–August 1910—A three-year drought culminates in 1000-3000 small fires in Washington, Idaho, and Montana.
August 20, 1910—Gale-force winds cause small fires to burn into each other, creating an unstoppable inferno and leading to widespread destruction across northwestern Montana and northern Idaho.
In the newspapers
- Forest Fires in Merciless Sweep Destroy Towns in Coeur D’Alenes, Daily Missoulian, August 21, 1910, p. 1
- Death and Destruction Still Follow in the Wake of Fierce Forest Fires, Daily Missoulian, August 22, 1910, p. 1
- Riders are Driven Through Fires and J. G. Boyd is Victim of Flames, Daily Missoulian, August 22, 1910, p. 7
- In Lincoln County Situation is Bad and Encouraging News From Spokane, Daily Missoulian, August 23, 1910, p. 6
- Known Death List Dwindles with Late Reports, Daily Missoulian, August 24, 1910, p. 1
- Flee from Forest Fires and Frightful Forest Fires, River Press, August 24, 2010, p. 1
- Death in Wake of Awful Fires, Yellowstone Monitor, August 25, 1910, p. 1
- Forest Fires, The Searchlight, August 26, 1910, p. 8
- Pinchot Scores Congress for the Fires and Graves Discusses Situation, Daily Missoulian, August 27, 1910, p. 5
- Passing Events, Daily Missoulian, August 28, 1910, p. 6
- Forestry Lessons Taught by the Great Fires, Daily Missoulian, November 20, 1910, p. 5
- Fire Conditions Better in State and Carter Replies to Pinchot, Yellowstone Monitor, September 1, 1910, p. 1
To find more
Search for these terms in combination, proximity, or as phrases: forest fire (limit by date range), wallace, st. regis, st. joe, taft, haugan, thompson falls, avery, forest service, gifford pinchot, ed pulaski, 25th regiment, big blowup, devil’s broom fireWritten by Catherine W. Ockey
