NC Forest Service - History of the N.C. Forest Service

1891
The North Carolina Geographic Survey is authorized by the state legislature. Joseph Austin Holmes, professor of Botany and Geology at N.C. State College is appointed state geologist. This marked the first geological survey in the nation authorized by public funds.

W.W. Ashe, a student at the University of North Carolina is appointed part-time assistant in forestry for the state Geological Survey. Conducting timber investigations, he becomes the first state employee to carry out forestry work.

1905
The N.C. Geological Survey is reorganized and renamed the North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey. Joseph Hyde Pratt succeeds Joseph Holmes as state geologist.

1908
The N.C. Geological and Economic Survey is split into three divisions. W.W. Ashe is employed as "forestry expert" in the new Forestry Division.

1909
John Simcox Holmes is appointed as the first state employed graduate forester.

1915
An act of the N.C. General Assembly provides the first forest fire wardens and gives them law enforcement powers. The act also authorizes the state to acquire and administer state forests and parks.

John Simcox Holmes is given the titles of state forester and state forest warden. However, no state funds are appropriated for the positions.

Mount Mitchell State Park is formed and entrusted to the state Geological and Economic Survey.

1918
The first state extension forester, Harvey B. Krausz, is appointed. The position is under the joint jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, States Relation Service and the N.C. Geological and Economic Survey. All farm woodland is placed under the extension forester's authority, except for fire control activities.

1921
William Darrow Clark is appointed to assist State Forester John Simcox Holmes and is given title of chief forest warden. The N.C. General Assembly appropriates the first funds for fire protection. Appropriated funds were less than $3,000.

Avery, Buncombe, Jackson and New Hanover counties, the first county wildfire control cooperators, appropriate a total of $1,500 for use on a 50-50 matching basis with the state.

1922
More than 20 counties cooperate with the state through matching funds for wildfire suppression. Each has a county fire warden. The first districts, 1 and 2, are formed in Asheville and Lenoir. A third is soon added in Fayetteville.

The job title district warden is changed to district forester.

1925
The N.C. Geological and Economic Survey is reorganized and the N.C. Department of Conservation and Development is formed by the N.C. General Assembly. The Division of Forestry is placed under the new department.

1926
The state constructs its first fire tower in Harnett County.

1927
The Game Division is formed as part of the Department of Conservation and Development. Game law enforcement is assigned to the Division of Forestry.

1933-1938
The Civilian Conservation Corps makes important contributions to the state's forestry efforts. Fifty-two fire towers were constructed. Hundreds of miles of trails were made. Almost 15 million trees were planted. More than 6,000 acres of timber stand improvement work was carried out.

1937
The first survey of North Carolina Forest Resources is made.

1939
Bladen Lakes State Forest, a former land utilization project site, is acquired from the U.S. Resettlement Administration under a long-term lease.

The state Division of Forestry is given responsibility for investigating and controlling forest insects and diseases.

1945
Combination fire and game wardens are given the choice of working for either the Forestry Division or the Game Division. Forestry stops enforcement of game laws.

William K. Beichler becomes North Carolina's second state forester following the resignation of John Simcox Holmes.

1948
The state Division of Forestry receives its first forest management funds and takes charge of the Farm Forestry Program from the Extension Service.

1949
The State Parks Division is created, removing authority over the parks from the Division of Forestry.

1950
William Beichler steps down as state forester.

The Cooperative Forest Management act is passed. It makes federal funds available to hire more state service foresters.

1951
Fred H. Claridge becomes state forester.

1953
The state Division of Forestry purchases its first scout plane, a Piper Cub.

The Little River Nursery at Goldsboro is authorized.

1954
The U.S. Resettlement Administration deeds the Bladen Lakes State Forest property to the state on that condition that it be used for public purposes.

1955
The N.C. General Assembly authorizes the state to execute a compact with other southern states for mutual aid in fighting forest fires.

More than 600,000 acres burn from a single fire covering areas of Hyde, Washington and Tyrrell counties. Subsequently, the first statewide master forest fire plan is developed.

1963
On April 4, "Black Thursday," 127 fires burn 185,000 acres.

First Tree Improvement Program seed orchard established at Ralph Edwards Nursery.

1966
Fred H. Claridge steps down as state forester. Ralph C. Winkworth is promoted to replace him.

1969
North Carolina becomes the first state in the nation to get legislative authority and funding to provide custom forestation work for landowners

1970
The NCFS becomes the first state agency to send a crew to a western state to fight fire.

1973
The forerunner of the state Educational State Forest System, the Small State Forest System, is developed.

The Griffiths State Forest Nursery is re-established as Clayton State Forest, the first of the Small State Forest System. At a dedication, State Forester Ralph Winkworth describes the forest's mission as "a supplement to the state park system with the primary mission of explaining the forest and forestry."

1975
Clayton State Forest is renamed Clemmons State Forest in honor of former forest supervisor Moody Clemmons.

1977
Implementation of Forest Development cost-share program begins.

1980
State Forester Ralph Winkworth passes away.

1981
H.J. "Boe" Green takes over as state forester.

1985
H.J. Green steps down as state forester. Harry Layman replaces him.

The Allen Road Fire burns 93,000 acres.

1986
The Small State Forest System is changed to the Educational State Forest System.

The Topsail fires burn 73,000 acres.

1989
Implementation of Forest Practices Guidelines Related to Water Quality begins.

1991
Stanford Adams becomes state forester.

1992
For the first time, a division Incident Management Team is sent out of state. The team is deployed to Florida to assist with the recovery from Hurricane Andrew.

1994
The Fish Day Fire burns 24,600 acres on U.S. Forest Service land.

1997
The division is the first state agency to acquire a CL-215 "Super Scooper" air tanker.

2003
The division adopts the national Firewise Communities USA Program.

2004
The one-millionth acre planted under the Forest Development Program is celebrated.

2006
State Forester Stanford Adams retires.

2007
Wib Owen is named state forester. 

2008
The 40,704 acre Evans Road Fire burns in Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties.

2010
The North Carolina State Forest Assessment is completed.

2011
After being known as the "North Carolina Division of Forest Resources" for several decades, the agency's name is changed back to the "North Carolina Forest Service" and it is transferred from the authority of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

2012
Scott Bissette is appointed assistant commissioner, and Greg Pate is appointed state forester.

2014
David Lane is appointed state forester.

2023
Scott Bissette retires, and Greg Hicks is promoted to assistant commissioner.