The Great Fire of 1910
For two terrifying days, August 20 and 21, 1910, a massive fire raged across three million acres of forest in northern Idaho and western Montana. Many people feared it was the end of the world, and for 86 victims, it was.
To escape the fire, residents of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and nearby areas evacuated by train, focusing on women and children. Forest Supervisors and local communities tried to control the blaze with limited resources, including recent forestry graduates and labor from mines and timber camps. Over 100 fires were started by red-hot cinders from coal-powered trains, making it hard to contain the flames. The Great Fire of Coeur d'Alene was finally put out when a cold front brought heavy rain and early snowfall. Although strong winds and dry conditions had fueled the fire, the change in weather helped bring the flames under control.