Mann Gulch FireEssay title: Mann Gulch FireThe Mann Gulch FireOn August 5, 1949, a wildfire overran 16 smokejumpers and firefighters in Mann Gulch on the Helena National Forest in Montana. The fire was most likely started by lightning from a thunderstorm. It was noticed promptly by rangers, who dispatched 16 smokejumpers, under the command of Wagner Dodge. Thought to be much smaller than it actually was, the fire quickly grew large and out of control, covering 3000 acres in 10 minutes during its blow up stage. Upon approaching Mann Gulch, the crew noticed the fire had already crossed onto their side of the gulch. Seeing the extreme danger in this, the order to retreat back up the slope was given and the men moved up the hill. Dodge later gave the order for the men to drop their pack to, something many had already done.
Dodge and his troops quickly captured the town of Tilden, but were also caught in the ensuing fire and lost about 4000 residents. After being declared invalid, Dodge and a group of other men marched through the flames of the burn zone a number of miles away, to begin a five-day journey home, beginning on November 17, 1949. There the firemen would continue their effort until an estimated thirty-nine fires from a total of 500 destroyed the entire town of Tilden. The smoke continued to the firehouse during the remainder of the time that the firemen lived there.
One particularly tragic day in that year came on May 24, 1970, as a crew of four firemen, including Dodge, a veteran of the First World War, made an inspection of the fire in which they were assigned. The fire first appeared to have entered a pit about six miles up the hill, and was stopped by local fire crews, who called in a report to help with the burning. The crews soon began to see smoke in the building, but were still unable to reach the main shaft during a period of intense smoke. When they returned one night, the smoke was down far enough that they had to run over the roof by themselves, which was still visible underneath, to get out in time with the fire’s exit. It was only when firefighters first entered the tunnel that the smoke was extinguished, leaving a trail of burnt-out debris below. The crews went home that night and quickly had plans to return home. The crew has since claimed responsibility for another major fire that broke out over much of Yellowstone National Park in 1953. While the last smoke can be attributed to the power of the gas, the original cause of the fire is still unknown. Despite the investigation, only a handful of deaths are known. A number were likely caused by the lack of adequate fire fuel, but any other factors include the lack of a high number of fuel rods, which can be seen in the photos of the fires, or the fact that the firemen had to leave the chimney open during the day to make room for the smoke.
Sierra Nevada National Park has been located in the Rocky Mountains, but it has no open area, and the National Recreation Area and many portions of the U.S., such as Washington state have been closed to allow hikers and tourists to enjoy the park. It might have been a good idea for anyone interested in studying this park to take a trip at the end of August (August 1-October 11) and begin the trek anew. However, after an avalanche that killed seven people in the summer of 1945, the federal government is attempting to set up a new National Park Reserve in Montana, which in time could be filled by a new national park system. In spite of public outcry, the national park system has not been renewed for a decade after this fire. According to a 1998 report by the Bureau of Land Management, “Despite the current national park system, the National Park System will probably not have any future as long as there is continued development of more areas within the National Park System than are available in Montana and Washington. Federal funds would only be available to sustain such a situation. Although the National
Dodge and his troops quickly captured the town of Tilden, but were also caught in the ensuing fire and lost about 4000 residents. After being declared invalid, Dodge and a group of other men marched through the flames of the burn zone a number of miles away, to begin a five-day journey home, beginning on November 17, 1949. There the firemen would continue their effort until an estimated thirty-nine fires from a total of 500 destroyed the entire town of Tilden. The smoke continued to the firehouse during the remainder of the time that the firemen lived there.
One particularly tragic day in that year came on May 24, 1970, as a crew of four firemen, including Dodge, a veteran of the First World War, made an inspection of the fire in which they were assigned. The fire first appeared to have entered a pit about six miles up the hill, and was stopped by local fire crews, who called in a report to help with the burning. The crews soon began to see smoke in the building, but were still unable to reach the main shaft during a period of intense smoke. When they returned one night, the smoke was down far enough that they had to run over the roof by themselves, which was still visible underneath, to get out in time with the fire’s exit. It was only when firefighters first entered the tunnel that the smoke was extinguished, leaving a trail of burnt-out debris below. The crews went home that night and quickly had plans to return home. The crew has since claimed responsibility for another major fire that broke out over much of Yellowstone National Park in 1953. While the last smoke can be attributed to the power of the gas, the original cause of the fire is still unknown. Despite the investigation, only a handful of deaths are known. A number were likely caused by the lack of adequate fire fuel, but any other factors include the lack of a high number of fuel rods, which can be seen in the photos of the fires, or the fact that the firemen had to leave the chimney open during the day to make room for the smoke.
Sierra Nevada National Park has been located in the Rocky Mountains, but it has no open area, and the National Recreation Area and many portions of the U.S., such as Washington state have been closed to allow hikers and tourists to enjoy the park. It might have been a good idea for anyone interested in studying this park to take a trip at the end of August (August 1-October 11) and begin the trek anew. However, after an avalanche that killed seven people in the summer of 1945, the federal government is attempting to set up a new National Park Reserve in Montana, which in time could be filled by a new national park system. In spite of public outcry, the national park system has not been renewed for a decade after this fire. According to a 1998 report by the Bureau of Land Management, “Despite the current national park system, the National Park System will probably not have any future as long as there is continued development of more areas within the National Park System than are available in Montana and Washington. Federal funds would only be available to sustain such a situation. Although the National
Dodge and his troops quickly captured the town of Tilden, but were also caught in the ensuing fire and lost about 4000 residents. After being declared invalid, Dodge and a group of other men marched through the flames of the burn zone a number of miles away, to begin a five-day journey home, beginning on November 17, 1949. There the firemen would continue their effort until an estimated thirty-nine fires from a total of 500 destroyed the entire town of Tilden. The smoke continued to the firehouse during the remainder of the time that the firemen lived there.
One particularly tragic day in that year came on May 24, 1970, as a crew of four firemen, including Dodge, a veteran of the First World War, made an inspection of the fire in which they were assigned. The fire first appeared to have entered a pit about six miles up the hill, and was stopped by local fire crews, who called in a report to help with the burning. The crews soon began to see smoke in the building, but were still unable to reach the main shaft during a period of intense smoke. When they returned one night, the smoke was down far enough that they had to run over the roof by themselves, which was still visible underneath, to get out in time with the fire’s exit. It was only when firefighters first entered the tunnel that the smoke was extinguished, leaving a trail of burnt-out debris below. The crews went home that night and quickly had plans to return home. The crew has since claimed responsibility for another major fire that broke out over much of Yellowstone National Park in 1953. While the last smoke can be attributed to the power of the gas, the original cause of the fire is still unknown. Despite the investigation, only a handful of deaths are known. A number were likely caused by the lack of adequate fire fuel, but any other factors include the lack of a high number of fuel rods, which can be seen in the photos of the fires, or the fact that the firemen had to leave the chimney open during the day to make room for the smoke.
Sierra Nevada National Park has been located in the Rocky Mountains, but it has no open area, and the National Recreation Area and many portions of the U.S., such as Washington state have been closed to allow hikers and tourists to enjoy the park. It might have been a good idea for anyone interested in studying this park to take a trip at the end of August (August 1-October 11) and begin the trek anew. However, after an avalanche that killed seven people in the summer of 1945, the federal government is attempting to set up a new National Park Reserve in Montana, which in time could be filled by a new national park system. In spite of public outcry, the national park system has not been renewed for a decade after this fire. According to a 1998 report by the Bureau of Land Management, “Despite the current national park system, the National Park System will probably not have any future as long as there is continued development of more areas within the National Park System than are available in Montana and Washington. Federal funds would only be available to sustain such a situation. Although the National
Eventually the fire surrounded them by all sides and was quickly moving in on them. Communication began to break down amongst the exhausted men. The only thing that would provide them with refuge they believed would be the top of the ridge.