I can't find any good information on historical forest fires in various parts of the country. The forest service has maps on current fires, but nothing showing what areas may have burned 10, 20, or 50 years ago.

Other than calling and asking someone who knows, how do you get this information? I'm not looking for any particular area, but wanted to look at historical fire patterns nationwide.

Any ideas?

That's an interesting quest. I'd be interested in any patterns or insights you might find.

Try BLM (Bureau of Land Management). They're the ones who run the Hotshot fire crews here in Alaska.

Every Forest Service Office that I am aware of has GIS maps of historic fires. My forest maintains that information as far back as the 1920s. I haven't looked lately, but our head office, in Washington DC, use to give public access to many of these maps. Try www.fs.fed.us and look under Fire to see what is available.

Jud, I just saw something around here locally on the Tillamook Burn, I'll dig around and see what I can find.....now if I can just remember where and when I saw it. Haven't tried to look around on the 'net yet, but if I get a chance and see what I can find and pass it along to you.

If you have no luck with the Forest Service, let me know, I may be able to call in some favors with people I know at the US National Fire Academy. They should know where to find such information.