During the Great Depression, the Association had a rash of incendiary (arson) fires that caused them a great deal of trouble. After about the first 50 of so, it became apparent that some local people were involved since they were the first ones to apply for work.

Work was hard to find and this was a means of making some money. According to A.B. Curtis in his book, White Pines and Fire: Cooperative Forestry in Idaho, it was also evident that the fires were all started in the same area and since some sets did not materialize, they could tell how they were set. A lighted candle was set on a gunny sack that had been soaked in kerosene. Sometimes the candle went out before it caught on the gunny sack and that is how the Association found out how the fires were being set.

At first, they organized three-man crews that patrolled the area that they thought the fires might be set and they were usually set on Saturday evenings. That did not work out.

Due to the unusual, difficult situation Curtis had a conference with C.L. Billings who was president of the Association at the time, and Ben E. Bush, who was the Idaho State Forester with an office in Moscow. They discussed the situation and Bush came up with a solution that sounded reasonable.

They brought in a detective from Oregon that was unknown in the area, but familiar with arson cases. A contract was agreed upon and the man went to work. Curtis met him in Moscow and brought him to the area. However, he was careful never to be seen with the detective in this area. He never reveals the name of the detective in the book, as well.

The detective proceeded to Weippe per Curtis' instruction and made friends with the family they suspected were involved with setting the fires. He gained the confidence of the arsonists and off and on during the fire season, he joined them on deer hunting excursions. They used the deer hides as a means of making money. He eventually gained their confidence to a point that they involved him in other unlawful activities, such as setting fires. He fit into the scheme very well and one night went out with them to scout places to set fires.

The detective conveyed the information to Curtis, but was very careful never to be seen with him. With the details provided by the detective, they were able to descend on the arsonists a little later, though the arsonists escaped for a time. Authorities tracked them to their home and arrested six of the seven, the seventh was later taken into custody. At first, they denied their involvement, but they took the one they felt would be the weakest separately and interviewed him with the detective present and he could do nothing but confess. In the process he implicated the other six and one by one they were interviewed without being able to compare notes. All seven were convicted and given sentences of five years in prison. However, they were out in 19 months due to good behavior. When they were released, they left the area and so ended the problem with the arson fires.

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