Deseret News archives: Devastating Western wildfires in 1910 forced many changes

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives .

In late summer 1910, a series of wildfires swept through parts of Idaho, Montana and Washington, killing at least 87 people and burning some 3 million acres. It was referred to the “Big Blowup,” the “Big Burn” and “Great Fire of 1910.”

The fires, which flared up on Aug. 20-21, killed 87 people and torched 4,700 square miles of land, historians note. It changed how wildfires were monitored in the nation. At one point, as many as 3,000 fires of different sizes were burning, many sparked by trains that threw sparks from their rails. Some communities were simply overwhelmed.

The U.S. Forest Service saw the need for early detection following those wildfires, which drew top headlines in the Deseret News and other newspapers. Things like fire lookout towers, walkie-talkies and air support were developed in the years that followed.

“ Giant fire set pace for Forest Service ”

“ Aging lookout towers still key during fire season in US West ”

“ State-of-the-art radios help firefighters save lives”

“ Search continues for lost Jesus statue ”

“ Books take back seat to fires ”

“ United front on Western wildfires ”

One of the heroes of that day was Ranger Ed Pulaski. On Aug. 20, the date of the “Big Blowup” near Wallace, Idaho, Pulaski was credited with saving all but five of his 45-man crew.

The ranger is also credited with developing the Pulaski tool used by most wildland firefighters today.

The potential for wildfires in the West has only increased. In 2000, wildfires burned more than 6.7 million acres in 11 states. The situation was bad again in 2011, 2020, 2022 and 2023, highlighted by the devastating wildfire in Maui.

“ National wildfires: ‘This is a very wicked problem’ ”

“ As wildfires rage on, here’s how to stay safe during wildfire season ”

“ The link between wildfires and forest health ”

“ Mending Milford: Ravaged by wildfire 1 year ago, area begins to recover ”

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