October is American Archives Month! The Nevada State Archives’ 2024 Archives Month exhibit commemorates the 80th anniversary of Smokey Bear’s fire prevention and education campaign and recognizes the essential role of the Nevada Division of Forestry in protecting and managing our lands.
The Nevada Division of Forestry generously sponsored the poster printing through the State Fire Assistance Grant Program funded by the USDA Forest Service. The National Historical Publications and Records Commission supported postage costs through a State Programming grant.
We invite you to visit the Nevada State Archives in Carson City to view photographs, maps, correspondence, and other historical records that document Nevada’s history of forestry, fire prevention, fire control, and forest management. Learn about Nevada’s rich history dating back to the 1930s. Materials will be displayed here online and in person at the Nevada State Archives from October 1 to December 31, 2024.
The Archives is open to the public from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM, Monday-Friday (excluding holidays).
The Nevada State Archives houses the historical records of the Nevada Division of Forestry and the Nevada State Forester Firewarden. With over 43 cubic feet of materials, the collection ranges from 1931 to 1985. Materials include correspondence, statistical and agency reports, emergency action reports, photographs, newspaper clippings, project and program files, and meeting materials.
The Division of Forestry is responsible for the protection and management of state and privately owned forest, watershed lands, and federal lands under contracts in Nevada. The Division has primary fire protection responsibilities within five organized Clarke-McNary Fire Districts and provides technical assistance to private landowners in forest management, insect and disease problems, windbreak tree programs, greenbelts, and local environmental issues. Technical assistance is also provided to local governments and rural communities in urban forestry programs.
Download a digital copy of the 2024 poster here. These posters were designed by the Nevada State Archives staff members Kassandra Andicoechea-Schmaling and Taylor Chase in collaboration with the Nevada Division of Forestry.
Since 1944, Smokey Bear has taught millions of Americans just like you about their role in preventing wildfires. Eighty years later, Smokey is celebrating a milestone birthday.
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Nevada Division of Forestry Records (NvSA-000161), Nevada State Archives, Carson City, NV
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Nevada Division of Forestry Records (NvSA-000161), Nevada State Archives, Carson City, NV
The origins of state forestry are indisputably linked to the Clarke-McNary Act of 1924. The conduits for Congressional action were Senator Charles E. McNary of Oregon and Representative John D. Clarke of New York. It was officially signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge on June 7, 1924.
The Clarke-McNary Act offered federal financial aid for the prevention and suppression of forest fires and named the U.S. Forest Service as the fiscal agent for fund distribution. It intentionally left the formation and execution of new programs up to the U.S. Forest Service.
The 1931, the Nevada Legislature authorized the Surveyor General to negotiate agreements with the Forest Service, county and local officials, and private landholders …
"for the purpose of securing cooperation in the protection of the forest and watershed areas of Nevada from fire."
To help achieve the objectives of the federal act, a Nevada statute provided for the organization of fire protection districts. The Carson Clarke-McNary Fire Protection District is the oldest in Nevada and began receiving federal funding in 1932. On the left side of this display, you can read more about the district as written by Louis D. Ferrari, Surveyor General and State Forester-Firewarden, November 15, 1951. This includes a map of the Carson Clarke-McNary Fire Protection District with the major cities, fire lookouts, and fire guards labeled.
In 1942, joint funding through the Clarke-McNary Act and the Extension Service of the Department of Agriculture enabled the Surveyor General to employ an Assistant State Forester Fire Warden. This position did not become a full-time state position until 1955.
A 1949 amendment to a 1945 statute allowed the Forester Fire Warden to appoint fire wardens who received police powers to enforce the provisions of the Clarke-McNary Act. It also permitting private owners of watershed areas "or lands having an inflammable cover in one of more counties" to form fire protection districts in order to qualify for Clarke-McNary funds.
Before the Nevada Division of Forestry, there was the State Board of Fire Control and the Office of the State Forester-Firewarden. In 1947, Nevadan’s experienced one of the worst fire seasons in history with an estimated 270,000 acres of private and state lands affected. Significant losses occurred, highlighting the need for improved prevention and educational efforts, particularly in rural areas.
During this period, the Forest Service was not established under the Nevada Division of Forestry. However, change was needed in response to public concern about the conservation of our state’s natural resources, wildlife, and safety. Wayne McLeod, Surveyor General and Nevada Representative in the federal-state-county fire protection program, advocated for enhanced fire prevention measures to address these issues.
In 1945, McLeod advocated for a bill that created the Board of Fire Control in which he would serve as the Nevada State Forester-Fire Warden and established the role of the Assistant Forester-Fire Warden. In 1947, McLeod and William S. Hayes (Assistant Forester-Fire Warden) would establish fire districts and state-wide fire training programs.
In 1955, the State Board of Fire Control’s name was changed to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Control, and its membership had to be chosen from agricultural, cattle, timber, and other interests, with one member representing the general public.
The Nevada Forest Practice Act of 1955 established regulations for logging and set rules for fire prevention and suppression. The Forester Firewarden was given responsibility for administration of the act, and the State Board of Forestry and Fire Control was authorized to make additional rules for the protection of trees.
Several acts of the 1957 Legislature affected the office of State Forester Firewarden. One gave him the authority to investigate infestations of forest pests and diseases, and the other stated that he was to decide if territory would be included or excluded from a fire district. If territory was to be included, he was to make the necessary rules & regulations to bring the bdistrict into compliance with the Clarke-McNary Act.
In 1957, the Legislature transferred the duties of the Surveyor General to the new Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Director of the Department was to appoint a qualified person as State Forester Firewarden, who was to be the head of the Division of Forestry.
In 1977, the State Board of Forestry and Fire Control was brought into the Division of Forestry, and the Forester Fire Warden became subject to the administrative supervision of the Director of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
In 1993, the State Board of Forestry and Fire Control was officially abolished.
Today, the Division of Forestry is responsible for the protection and management of state and privately owned forest, watershed lands, and federal lands under contracts in Nevada. The Fire Prevention Program of the Nevada Division of Forestry is divided into three basic phases: Prevention, Pre-Suppression and Suppression. Prevention is the most important as it is the single program which, if effective, can reduce the cost of suppression and fire damage. Smokey Bear and the Nevada Division of Forestry play a vital role of fire prevention in protecting our communities and preserving our environment.
Fire prevention work plays a crucial yet often overlooked role in safeguarding our communities and natural resources. The effectiveness of fire prevention is often measured by what doesn’t happen; when fires are prevented, there are no headlines to celebrate these successes. However, the importance of prevention cannot be overstated, as it encompasses a range of activities, including education and strategic planning.
“Our purpose is threefold, we inform the people of the nearest fire equipment...who to notify in case of fire, we also make recommendations for fire safety on the property...”
“Our first purpose is fire prevention, when this fails and fire suppression becomes necessary we depend upon the organized volunteer fire depts.”
~ Fire Prevention Program Overview by Nevada Division of Forestry, July 26, 1969
