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The Big Burn That Changed Firefighting | Boise News
In 1910, a catastrophic wildfire known as the “Big Burn” tore through northern Idaho and western Montana, fueled by relentless drought, hurricane-force winds, and months of dry conditions. Over nearly 100 firefighters perished—including Ranger Ed Pulaski, who famously survived by sheltering his crew in a mining tunnel—while three million acres burned and entire towns like Wallace were erased. The disaster reshaped firefighting forever: it led to the Weeks Act, which established federal forest protection partnerships, and birthed the iconic Pulaski tool—a hybrid axe and hoe still used today. A…
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