how many people died in the great fire 1910?

As a result of a drought, conditions across America were hot and dry in 1910. This led to the creation of one of America’s largest wildfires. It is commonly known by the Big Blowup, as it engulfed large parts of Idaho and Montana in flames, and burned over 3 million acres. The fire was difficult to control because of the sparks created by high winds. It was the Big Blowup that led to the US Forest Service being one of its most important events. In the past, the Service operated more in a passive manner with respect to private and public lands. There was a very small number of rangers. After realizing that the existing policies and strategies were failing, it was decided to reform the department. A fire protection campaign was launched in which the mascot Smokey the Bear was created and fire suppression became the new model for America’s view on fire. Edited by Betty Ruiz, Aguascalientes (Mexico), October 15, 2021 [2]

To us, men in the mountains seemed like all of existence was aflame. It was thought by many that this could be the end of the universe. It would have been foolish to try to put out the flames in such circumstances. This was about saving lives. I rode my horse to collect men. Most of them were unfamiliar with the country, and I knewnown that if they have ever gotten out they would have to be led out … I finally collected forty-five men … Had it not been for my familiarity with the mountain trails, we would never have come out alive, for we were completely surrounded by raging, whipping fire. This was a great idea and we are very grateful for Major Simons’s help. [3]

Specialists at spokanehistorical.orgThe summer of 1910 in the Northwestern United States was dry and hot. The nation would experience the fury, wrath and rage of nature on August 20-21. The destruction of 1.5million acres in Northeast Wisconsin by fires was witnessed in 1825. What made fires in Idaho and Washington so unique is the fact they were far removed from civilization. Wallace, Idaho saw the most severe fires. The fires were pushed into each other by gale force winds at 70 mph on August 20, as the sun rose over the deserted earth. forming the “Big Blowup,” also known as the “Big Burn.” This being a period Many immigrants were hired to fight the fires because of their high levels of immigration. Many men were taken from their homes and from saloons and accused of lighting fires for employment. Due to the severity of the fire season, many U.S. Army units from the Northwest were mobilize to assist. Also, logging and mining workers were trained to fight fires. Compare this to the 5 million acres that wildfires in America consumed across the country in 1910. At least 85 people perished in the 1910 fires that scorched around 7.5 billion feet of timber. Wallace’s third was also destroyed. Small towns across the country were decimated. New England received smoke from the fires. San FranciscoThe Big Blowup took place just five years after the U.S. Fire Service was established. Many of those who participated in the 1910 fires would go on to earn top positions at the U.S.F.S. The U.S.F.S. would follow suit in the years that followed. U.S.F.S. was born from this. These policies were the catalyst that led to U.S.F.S. [4]