Brush Ridge Fire Tower

Brush Ridge Fire Tower. Tar Hollow State Forest. , Built in 1934 at 73 feet tall, this tower overlooks Tar Hollow State Forest, which is Ohio's third-largest state forest, containing more than 16,370 acres. This forest originated from the Ross-Hocking Land Utilization program of the 1930s. The program's purpose was to relocate families to more productive land. Once families moved from the area, the abandoned land was leased to the Division of Forestry, of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and ownership was finally transferred to the state in 1958., Ohio Forest Fire Management Through the Years, .1885 - The Ohio General Assembly established the State Forestry Bureau. , .1921 - A bill was passed allocating $10,000 to what would become the ODNR Division of Forestry in order to develop a wildfire suppression program. , .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. , .1933-1935 - 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 began 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 workers from the ODNR Division of Forestry and local fire departments, employees from the Division of Parks and the Division of Wildlife 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 staffed. , .1986 - The ODNR Division of Forestry sends its first interagency 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 during the fire season months - March, April, May, October, and November. , .2000 - Prescribed fire became a widespread forest management tool in Ohio, benefiting forest health, wildlife habitat, and ecological diversity. , . 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. , . Present Day - The ODNR Division of Forestry continues to train, equip, and provide millions of dollars to local departments to fight wildfires in their local communities and continues to combat wildfires in Ohio and across the nation.