Forest Fires and Their Prevention: Including, Forest Fires in North Carolina During 1910

by Eduards Gomez (Author, Editor), Kristina Alvarez (Editor)

A forest fire is any uncontrolled, non-structure fire that occurs in the wilderness. Wildlife behavior is often complex and variably dependent on factors such as fuel type, moisture content in the fuel, humidity, wind speed, topology, geographic location and ambient temperature. Weather patterns, such as heat waves droughts can also have a dramatic impact on the onset and outcome of wildfires. Fire is sometimes essential for forest regeneration, however, it often destroys forests and has dire social and economic consequences. This book looks at the underlying causes of forest fires, their ecological effects and preventive strategies.

by Jan Cerney (Author), Roberta Sago (Author)

Once vital to fire prevention and detection, most of the Black Hills National Forest historic lookout towers now serve primarily as hiking destinations. The first crude lookout structures were built at Custer Peak and Harney Peak in 1911. Since that time, more than 20 towers have been constructed in the area. The first lookout towers were built of wood, most replaced by steel or stone. The Civilian Conservation Corps was instrumental in constructing fire towers during the 1930s and 1940s. One of the most famous and architecturally and aesthetically valued towers is the Harney Peak Fire Lookout--situated on the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains. Harney Peak is among a number of Black Hills towers listed on the National Historic Lookout Register. Over 200 vintage images tell the story of not only the historic fire towers but those who manned them. Perched atop high peaks in remote locations, fire lookout personnel spent countless hours scanning the forest, pinpointing dangers, often experiencing the powerful wrath of lightning strong enough to jolt them off their lightning stools.