The Museum of North Idaho in Coeur d’Alene has a display on forest fires.
In 1910, a year with unusually low rainfall and a very dry summer, a number of fires blew up out of control in August. According to the display:
“The greatest financial loss was the white pine timber resources. The railroad companies had the second greatest loss with railroad tires, tracks, bridges and camps completely destroyed. Several towns were destroyed including one third of Wallace.”
Ed Pulaski and his crew of 45 firefighters were surrounded by the flames of the 1910 fire, but Pulaski led his men to the Nicholson tunnel in Place Creek. According to the display:
“He hung wet blankets over the entrance but heat and smoke filled the tunnel and the cool air was sucked out. He ordered the men to lie face down, stationed himself at the entrance, and threatened to shoot anyone who tried to leave.”
Because of his efforts only five of the men died.
The Pulaski is a firefighting tool which combines an axe and a mattock. In 1911 he presented an early version of the tool at a supervisors meeting where it was met with little enthusiasm. According to the display:
“Pulaski worked with the tool and by 1913 he had made an axe and mattock combination tool with fairly good balance. The patent process and the associated cost discouraged Pulaski in following through with a patent. Instead, Pulaski put the tool to use and by 1920 fire fighters adopted the tool throughout the region. The Forest Service in the end honored Pulaski by using his name on the tool as much as in recognition as a hero of the 1910 fire as the inventor of the tool. Today, pulaskis are an important tool in fire fighting.”
Fire Lookout
Lookouts began to be constructed in the national forests by 1905 and by 1915 the design for the lookouts had become standardized.
Museums 101
More from this series:
Museums 101: The Washington timber industry (photo diary)
Museums 101: Settlers in the High Desert (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Weekly Newspaper (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Commercial Fishing (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Parlor at the Fort Dalles Museum (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Missoula Smokejumpers Visitor Center (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Tar Paper Shacks and Balloon Houses (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The General Store (Photo Diary)