Скачать или смотреть LinW10 Hugo and Barbara Wood - Forest Ranger and Forest Ranger's Wife | 1990

Hugo Wood (1918-1997) and Hugo's wife Barbara are interviewed by Peter Chapman in Castlegar in 1990 for the Nelson Museum "A Life in the Woods" oral history project archive. Hugo was a forest ranger for the British Columbia Forest Service.

Hugo was an assistant ranger in the late 1930s in Grand Forks. In 1943 Hugo went to Nakusp at patrolman and stayed in Nakusp and became ranger in Nakusp in 1955. Hugo worked as ranger in charge in Castlegar until retiring in 1980. Hugo recalls communicating with fire lookouts by radio. The house Hugo and Barbara lived in in Arrowhead is now under water. Hugo and Barbara recalls some of the major fire such as Big Ledge and the Sentinel Mountain fire in 1967 when there was 99 fires and the Avenger water bombers. They also discuss the Sons of Freedom fires.

There is discussion of trails and the differences between the summer and winter activities of the ranger role. Former army landing craft were used on the lake for transporting fire-fighters. Hugo talks about tree farm licenses. Hugo and Barbara talk about the aircraft and some of the pilots of the Beavers. Many of the people who worked in the forest service including fire inspectors are named. Mills and pole companies are discussed and how mill managers would apply to log an area, special timber licenses, auctions. Hugh said a million board feet was a big sale. Hugo describes why he joined the forest service. Hugo and Barbara discusses the boats the forest service had on the Arrow Lakes and the storms there used to be on the lake. Barbara discusses some of the duties of a ranger's wife. There is discussion of some of the Sons of Freedom fires and the changes in the forest service since Hugo retired. Hugo and Barbara discuss the hardships and raising a family. Hugo said he would get together with rangers once a year. Hugo would get upset with loggers cutting down areas he had recommended they did not cut and the district office had overruled Hugo. Hugo discusses fire service crew including honoury fire wardens. Hugo discusses using pack horses to supply fire crews and the lookouts.

Interviewer : Peter Chapman
Date : August 9, 1990


Edited transcript available online at https://touchstonesnelson.ca/exhibiti...