Oregon Public Broadcasting

This weekend, several cities and towns in north Idaho are looking back 100 years. They're remembering the lessons of the blaze known as the 'Big Burn', America's largest-ever wildfire.

USFS

A big part of the town of Wallace, Idaho burned during the Great Fire of 1910.

The Great Fire of 1910 charred more than three million acres in north Idaho and western Montana.

Near Wallace, a Forest Service ranger and more than 40 firefighters were chased by the flames and took refuge in an old mine tunnel. Six men died.

Today, you can hike up there yourself.

Retired teacher Jim See was part of the effort to build the interpretive trail that's now named after that ranger, Ed Pulaski.

See says the Big Burn came just five years after the creation of the Forest Service. He says it shellshocked the young agency and led its leaders to adopt an aggressive firefighting strategy.

Jim See: "Which was basically put 'em out. And we have learned, after 100 years, that that probably isn't the best policy and that has been re-thought. So now we have controlled fires. Some have been left to burn."

The Forest Service hopes that planned low intensity fires can avoid a repeat of the Big Burn.