According to Ralph Space in the Clearwater Story: A History of the Clearwater National Forest, in the early 1930s, he believes 1933, a 10 a.m. wildfire control policy was adopted. Field men had long wanted the polcy, though it was referred to as a Chief's policy. This policy was that for every fire, regardless of location or the values involved, plans would be made to bring it under control by 10 a.m. the next day. That was considered the beginning of the day's burning period. Before this policy there was a lot of controversy if a fire was put out quickly, the charge was often made that it was not doing any damage or that money could have been saved by using less men. If a fire escaped control, then the criticism was that action was not aggressive enough. The 10 a.m. policy, through the years, proved to be sound.

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