July 2, 2015 at 2:13 p.m.
100th anniversary of forest patrol aviation in Wisconsin
100th anniversary of forest patrol aviation in Wisconsin
His nephew, Logan "Jack" Vilas, would later become the first person to cross Lake Michigan by plane. Jack Vilas is also known as the world's first flying fire ranger.
Vilas spent much of his life in Chicago, but he vacationed in Vilas County and kept a hydroaeroplane on Trout Lake. He was an avid hunter and angler in addition to being a thrill seeker and adventurer, racing cars and piloting some of the earliest airplanes.
In was on June 29, 1915 that Vilas lifted off from Trout Lake in his hydroaeroplane with Wisconsin's first chief forester, Edward Griffin, on the first aerial forest fire patrol flight. This week, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources celebrated the centennial of airborne fire patrols.
At the time, fire lookouts were confined to lookout towers perched on hilltops. Vilas observed that he was able to spot fires starting from a much higher altitude and thus quickly prevent fires from burning uncontrollably. Griffin agreed and Vilas was named the world's first flying fire ranger, a job Vilas did for free in exchange for the title.
Vilas would make daily routes in the Northwoods. If he spotted a fire, he would land and call the forestry headquarters with a remarkably precise estimation of the location despite a lack of any of the high-tech instrumentation available to modern pilots.
Within two years, the "Wisconsin Plan" for forest protection was adopted by Canada and other countries and was implemented by the U.S. Forest Service by 1919 according to a DNR press release.
100 years of aerial service
The DNR still uses pilots to help detect fires. Currently, the department stations 10 pilots in five locations across the state in Eau Claire, Madison, Oshkosh, Siren and Rhinelander. Many had previous careers in the U.S. Air Force. Pilots include former jet pilots, wilderness bush pilots and flight instructors.
Pilots are especially vigilant in early spring when conditions are dry, trees are full of sap and leaves have not yet sprouted. In April 2015, for example, most of the state was plunged into a "very high" fire danger level.
In addition to spotting fires, the DNR pilots provide intel during firefighting and help search and rescue efforts using infrared technology, they track and count wildlife, spot forest disease and collect data during and after natural disasters. Each of the pilots is given Federal Aviation Administration exemption permitting low altitude flight.
"I rest easier knowing our highly-skilled pilots are always available on short notice when we need them," DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp said in a press release. "Few people realize how important they are to our mission, to protect and enhance our natural resources and to guard public safety. Let me be the first to wish our wonderful aviation team a very happy 100th birthday."
Ryan Matthews may be reached at [email protected].
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