Episode 25: Fire in the Forest
The Adirondacks survived two major forest fires in the early 1900s. The “Big Burn” of 1903 destroyed around countless homes and 464,000 acres of forest. Then in 1908, another fire burned approximately 600,000 acres. As devastating as these events were, they helped lead to the creation of the NYS Forest Service.
American Forest Product Industries Poster, ca. 1950s.
After the fire of 1903, ca. 1904 (P023789)
The landscape after a fire started by a careless smoker, 1923 (P050429)
Connecting To Curriculum
Read aloud: Students can follow along while listening. Click HERE to download a copy of the transcript.
Vocabulary: Explore new words. Students listen to high-level vocabulary in context. Have them identify the definition afterward. Click HERE for the vocabulary page.
Math: To give students a visual reference of the large areas of land mentioned in the episode; measure out an acre on your school’s playground or football field, or a nearby park.
Questions
Higher grade level students may want to explore some topics in more depth.
- How are wildfires treated differently today?
- Is the Adirondack Park adequately prepared for the possibility of a large-scale wildfire?
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