FOREST FIRE PROTECTION IN MONTANA 



Organized forest fire protection began in Montana 

 in the early 1 Q 00's with the Federal Government pro- 

 viding protection to the National Forest lands. How- 

 ever, a disastrous 1910 fire season clearly showed 

 the privately owned lands need more organized fire 

 protection and that the protection furnished the 

 national forest lands should be intensified. During 

 this period, the private forest protective associations 

 were formed to provide organized protection for blocks 

 of private company ownerships. The Associations left 

 an unfilled need for forest fire protection over vast 

 areas. 



The 1939 Legislature created a State Board of 

 Forestry and authorized this board to organize and 

 provide forest fire protection on the privately owned 

 forest lands throughout the State. The Board's initial 

 action was confined principally to the commercial timber 

 areas west of the Continental Divide. Fire districts 

 were formed and single agency protection was designated 

 for the protection of all the forest lands within each 

 district boundary. Private landowners west of the 

 Continental Divide participated in this protection by 



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