COEUR d’ALENE — Ed Pulaski, a hero of the 1910 Fires, appeared at his gravesite Sunday.

Well, actually Forest Service historian Steve Coady of Eugene, Ore., in costume and acting as Pulaski, appeared at the hero’s gravesite during a tour of the historic Forest Cemetery here.

With his trusty fire-fighting Pulaski Tool at his side, Coady recounted the events of Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, 1910, when millions of acres of forest burned and about one-third of Pulaski’s then-hometown of Wallace burned. Coady also discussed the role the young Forest Service had in responding to the fires that year.

Pulaski’s headstone reads: Count Edward C. Pulaski, Feb. 2, 1931. The “Count” was written at the request of Pulaski’s wife, Emma, to honor her husband, Coady said.

Pulaski is best remembered for saving more than 40 firefighters during the “Big Burn” by hiding them in a mine adit,

now called Pulaski Tunnel, as the raging firestorm left them with no escape on the side of a steep mountainside about 3 miles from Wallace. At one point, Pulaski drew his pistol and threatened to shoot anyone who tried to run from the tunnel in panic.

“I think in the fire I was the only one to draw my revolver,” said “Pulaski.”

The Coeur d’Alene Public Library partnered with the city parks department to offer the tour.

The cemetery, at 1001 Government Way, was first owned by the U.S. Army from 1878 to 1901. It was used by Fort Sherman troops. The remains of about 100 soldiers and their families were moved to Spokane in 1901 when Fort Sherman was closed.

The federal government deeded the original one-acre parcel and surrounding 19.7 acres to the city of Coeur d’Alene in 1905.