The U.S. Forest Service celebrates its centennial in 2005. With a new preface by the author, this edition of Harold K. Steen’s classic history (originally published in 1976) provides a broad perspective on the Service’s administrative and policy controversies and successes. Steen updates the book with discussions of a number of recent concerns, among them the spotted owl issue; wilderness and roadless areas; new research on habitat, biodiversity, and fire prevention; below-cost timber sales; and workplace diversity in a male-oriented field.

Contents: Calif. Climate, Vegetation & Forest Fires; Amer. Settlement & Forest Fire: 1848-1898; The Forest Reserves in Calif.: 1891-1905; The Forest Service Assumes Control of the Reserves: 1905-1910; Experimenting with Policy & Procedure; Controversy & Confusion; World War I & Postwar Changes; Building a Fire Control Tradition: 1920-1924; Responding to a Decade of Fire: 1925-1929; Fire Control Comes of Age: 1930-1935; New Plans & New Techniques: 1936-1941; The Challenge of World War II: 1942-1945; Transition to Peace: 1946-1949; Rebuilding a Fire Control Org.: 1950-1953; A New Age of Fire Control Begins: 1954-1955; Epilogue; Footnotes; & Bibliography. Tables, maps & charts.

This state-of-knowledge review about the effects of fire on air quality can assist land, fire, and air resource managers with fire and smoke planning, and their efforts to explain to others the science behind fire-related program policies and practices to improve air quality. Chapter topics include air quality regulations and fire; characterization of emissions from fire; the transport, dispersion, and modeling of fire emissions; atmospheric and plume chemistry; air quality impacts of fire; social consequences of air quality impacts; and recommendations for future research.

Managing wildland fire in the U.S. is a challenge increasing in complexity & magnitude. The goals & actions presented in this report encourage a proactive approach to wildland fire to reduce its threat. Five major topic areas on the subject are addressed: the role of wildland fire in resource management; the use of wildland fire; preparedness & suppression; wildland/urban interface protection; & coordinated program management. Also presented are the guiding principle that are fundamental to wildland fire management & recommendations for fire management policies. Photos, graphs, & references.