Until 1900 little interest was held in the protection of our forests The first organized suppression effort on the part of timber companies and homesteaders came about in 1900. Until 1905, cruisers working with the timber companies and settlers carried the load of fire protection. In 1905, Charles Munson was named Idaho’s first State Land Commissioner. Munson, along with Theodore Fohl, Nat Brown and C.O. Brown, were instrumental in organizing the nation's first cooperative timber protective association.

The name given to the first association was the Clearwater Timber Protective Association, encompassing 353,000 acres. In the spring of 1906, the Potlatch Timber Protective Association was formed, encompassing about the same acreage as the CTPA. After an agreement was reached, it allowed for the first time in history, money to be collected from landowners on a pro-rata acreage basis to pay for labor and materials. The Associations began pre-suppression activities, which included establishing boundaries, mapping of the protection area and building trails for transportation for men and equipment. Telephone lines were strung for communications and lookout towers erected for detection. A serious fire on Smith Ridge in the early 1930's brought about changes that put the two Associations under the control of one Chief Fire Warden. Even in the early days of the Associations, they realized it was economically and physically less demanding to put fires out while they were small.

As time and technology changed, so did the associations. Roads were built in the area and pack strings reduced as mechanized equipment became available. This change is visible today as roads are being closed we are relying more on aerial assistance for suppression and detection. Mechanized equipment such as dozers became available in the 1940s and gave the Associations a fire suppression tool that is still highly utilized. Although the old number nine wire phones that were relied on for years are no longer used, communications have advanced to state of the art equipment. Multi-channel radios allow the Association to stay in contact with other agencies and cooperators. As stated earlier, this Association is a co-operative and enjoys a fine working relationship with members, contractors and other agencies in the area of responsibility.

As access, communications and transportation improved, a need was seen to consolidate and in 1965 the two Associations were merged to become the Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association. This eliminated a duplex operation and instituted greater tactical and administrative control. Click here for a map of our area.

In 1970 protection acres were lost as Dworshak Dam came on line and created a new problem for fire protection. Steep, heavily timbered mid-slope terrain was easily accessed by recreationists not familiar with fire behavior. To correct this problem, a boat and aerial patrol contract has been established with the Army Corps of Engineers. The contract also deals with prevention to the general public as well as pre-suppression training for Corps of Engineer personnel.

As fuel and other conditions change, the tactics to suppress wildfire must also change. Some changes have been made to accommodate other tools in the suppression of wildfire. Centralized airfields that are capable of servicing small retardant air craft and helicopter dip ponds located throughout the Association that allow three minute turn around times for the Jet Ranger helicopter that is under contract during the fire season.

The Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective has become a highly mobile, economical, initial attack organization that prides itself on keeping fires small. Today there are 14 permanent employees, headed by the Chief Fire Warden Howard Weeks.

Click here for pictures of our Chief Fire Wardens, past and present.

---