Swanton in Garrett County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Fighting Forest Fires

By F. Robby, July 30, 2016

1. Fighting Forest Fires Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

State Forester Fred W. Besley developed Maryland's first systematic program of fighting forest fires. Beginning in 1910, Besley commissioned an elite corps of volunteers called forest wardens that numbered about 650 in 1935. Their responsibilities included coordinating crews to fight and extinguish forest fires, posting fire warning notices, enforcing forestry laws, and scheduling forest observers in fire towers. The Thayerville Forest Fire Lookout Tower on Meadow Mountain was one of 34 forest fire lookout towers in use across Maryland in 1944. The lookout towers that remain today are monuments to Maryland's early forest conservation efforts. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources memorializes that tireless accomplishments and sacrifices of the early forest wardens.

Erected 2006 by Maryland Forestry and Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 39° 30.866′ N, 79° 17.939′ W. Marker is in Swanton, Maryland, in Garrett County. Marker can be reached from

By F. Robby, July 30, 2016

2. Fighting Forest Fires Marker

Click or scan to see
this page online

the intersection of State Park Road and Brant Road. Marker is located .2 miles north along the Fire Tower Trail that starts from the administration building at this intersection. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Swanton MD 21561, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fighting Forest Fires Is a Hard Job (a few steps from this marker); History of Deep Creek Lake (approx. 0.2 miles away); Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center (approx. 0.2 miles away); Deep Creek Lake (approx. 2.1 miles away); Thayer Game Refuge (approx. 2.7 miles away); Col. James McHenry of Baltimore (approx. 3½ miles away); The National Road (approx. 4.6 miles away); Gettysburg Campaign (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Swanton.

By F. Robby, July 30, 2016

3. Fighting Forest Fires Marker

Thayerville Fire Tower image. Click for full size.

By F. Robby, July 30, 2016

4. Thayerville Fire Tower

Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2016, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 253 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 8, 2016, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland.