tok, alaska began as a camp used for the construction and maintenance of the alaska highway in 1942. it was nicknamed "million dollar camp" since so much money was placed into the camp's construction. in 1947, the first school was opened. between 1947 and 1971, a customs office was opened up when the city was moved next to the canadian border abnd between 1954 and 1979 it became a pump stop for the alaska pipeline. in july 1990 a large forest fire threatened to wipe out the town but they were saved by a "miracle wind" that came just before the fire reached the first building.