On August 18, 1937, a lightning strike started the Blackwater Fire in Shoshone National Forest, approximately 35 miles (56 km) west of Cody, Wyoming, United States. Fifteen firefighters were killed by the forest fire when a dry weather front caused the winds to suddenly increase and change direction. The fire quickly spread into dense forest, creating spot fires that trapped some of the firefighters in a firestorm. Nine firefighters died during the fire and six more died shortly thereafter from severe burns and respiratory complications. Another 38 firefighters were injured. The fire killed more professional wildland firefighters in the U.S. than any other in the 103 years between the Great Fire of 1910 and the Yarnell Hill Fire in 2013.
A lightning strike starts the Blackwater Fire of 1937 in Shoshone National Forest, killing 15 firefighters within three days and prompting the United States Forest Service to develop their smokejumper program.
On August 18, in the year 1937, A lightning strike starts the Blackwater Fire of 1937 in Shoshone National Forest, killing 15 firefighters within three days and prompting the United States Forest Service to develop their smokejumper program. This event is recorded as a Historical Events event in the history of August 18, one of 398 recorded events on this date across all of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on August 18, 1937 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Historical Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 4 Wikipedia articles.
- The event is associated with a specific geographical location (see map below).
- Wikipedia source last updated on 1 July 2026.
On This Date in History 398
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More on August 18
2019
One hundred activists, officials, and other concerned citizens in Iceland hold a funeral for Okjökull glacier, which…
Iceland is a Nordic island country between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Europe and North America. It is culturally and …
One hundred activists, officials, and other concerned citizens in Iceland hold a funeral for Okjökull glacier, which…
2017
The Turku terror attack occurs in Finland when a knifeman kills two and injures eight.
On 18 August 2017, a mass stabbing took place in Turku, Finland. Two women were killed and eight others were injured before the perpetrator, 22-year-old Abderrahman Bouanane, was …
The Turku terror attack occurs in Finland when a knifeman kills two and injures eight.
2011
15 years ago
A terrorist attack on Israel's Highway 12 near the Egyptian border kills 16 and injures 40.
On August 18, 2011, a series of cross-border attacks with parallel attacks and mutual cover was carried out in southern Israel on Highway 12 near the Egyptian border by a squad of…
A terrorist attack on Israel's Highway 12 near the Egyptian border kills 16 and injures 40.
2008
The President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, resigns under threat of impeachment.
Pervez Musharraf was a Pakistani politician and military officer who served as the tenth president of Pakistan from 2001 to 2008. He overthrew Nawaz Sharif's government in the 199…
The President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, resigns under threat of impeachment.
2008
War of Afghanistan: The Uzbin Valley ambush occurs.
French International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops were ambushed by Afghan Taliban insurgents, with heavy casualties, in the Uzbin Valley outside the village of Spēṟ Kun…
War of Afghanistan: The Uzbin Valley ambush occurs.
2005
A massive power blackout hits the Indonesian island of Java; affecting almost 100 million people, it is one of the…
The 2005 Java–Bali Blackout was a power outage across Java and Bali on 18 August 2005, affecting some 100 million people.
A massive power blackout hits the Indonesian island of Java; affecting almost 100 million people, it is one of the…
Comments 0
Sign in to join the discussion.