Ohio Forest Management Through the Years

Ohio Forest Management Through the Years. . , 1885 - The Ohio General Assembly established the State Forestry Bureau. , 1915 - The General Assembly appropriated $10,000 for the purchase of two forested areas in southern Ohio: Waterloo State Forest in Athens County and Dean State Forest in Lawrence County. This began Ohio's state forest system. , 1922 - Ohio's first fire tower was erected on Copperhead Hill in Shawnee State Forest in Scioto County. A total of 39 fire towers were erected in Ohio, and the last fire tower was constructed in 1970. , 1933-1925 - The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) crews participated in forest fire suppression, as well as construction of fire towers and an expansive forest fire control telephone network. , 1942 - To supplement fire towers, the Division of Forestry begins using Civil Air Patrol aircraft for fire detection. Ohio becomes one of the first states to use aircraft for forest fire detection on a regular basis. , 1949 - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is formed, with the ODNR Division of Forestry as one of the seven charter divisions. , 1952-1954 - Extreme drought conditions during this three-year period contribute to some of the worst fire seasons on record in Ohio. Along with the ODNR Division of Forestry and local fire departments, ODNR's Parks and Wildlife employees assisted in suppression efforts. The Ohio National Guard was also called to help extinguish blazes. , 1969 - That spring, a total of 1,803 forest fires were reported, burning nearly 13,000 acres. The last of the 39 Ohio fire towers was contracted to be built, and three fire stations were completed. , 1978 - Changes in land use and advances in air detection of forest fires resulted in the discontinuation of fire tower use. Green Ridge Tower in Pike State Forest was the last tower to be manned. , 1986 - The ODNR Division of Forestry sends its first inter-agency fire crew to assist on Western wildfires. The crew worked on the Ace Creek fire in Washington state. Many Ohio resources, including crews and fire engines, have helped on Western wildfires since then. , 1988 - Legislation passed in March repealed the use of burning permits and instituted the current 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. burn ban in the fire season months - March, April, May, October and November. , 2000 - Prescribed fire becomes a widespread forest management tool in Ohio, benefiting forest health, wildlife habitat and timber production. , 2005 - The Smokey Bear specialty license plate for passenger vehicles became available through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Ohio's Smokey Bear license plate was the first, and is to date, the only Smokey Bear license plate for registered vehicles in the country. A portion of sale proceeds is returned to the ODNR Division of Forestry to support wildfire prevention and education. , 2016 - The Armintrout Firetower was relocated from Pike County to the state fairgrounds in Columbus. The restored fire tower is used for educating the public about Ohio's rich history of forest protection.