EMPORIUM – Spurred by rampant wildfires following unregulated logging in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, visionary leaders, such as Gifford Pinchot and Joseph Rothrock, lobbied for laws to protect streams and forests. These efforts resulted in the creation of a system of volunteer Forest Fire Wardens in Pennsylvania in 1915.
On March 18, the Bureau of Forestry, Elk State Forest, held its annual Fire Warden Training. The primary purpose of a Forest Fire Warden is to assist the Bureau of Forestry in the suppression and investigation of wildfires. Wardens may also be appointed to assist the Bureau in fire prevention, detection and pre-suppression activities.
At this year’s training, six Forest Fire Wardens received awards for their years of service: Lynn A. Crosby of Cameron County with 60 years, Kirk Bainey of Cameron County with 35 years, Don Weis of Elk County with 15 years, Nelson Haas of Cameron County with 15 years, Diana Ball of Cameron County with 10 years and Robert F. McKay with 10 years.
Pictured from left are Diana Ball, Don Weis and Kirk Bainey. The other wardens were not in attendance.