Books on tragic wildfires

[taxifolia]

Anyone in, or with friends or family in, the wildfire business should read at least these books:
1. Norman Maclean's "Young Men and Fire" about the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire.
2. His son, John Norman Maclean, wrote "Fire on the Mountain" about the 1994 South Canyon (Storm King Mountain) fire.
A former co-worker of mine lost his son in Storm King.
3. Also, John's "The Thirtymile Fire" in 2001.

These are chilling accounts of tragic wildfires. "Normal" fires sometimes turn very bad with unanticipated devastating effects.

Another good book about aviation "incidents" is "Fate is the Hunter" by Ernest Gann:
Fate is the Hunter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A helicopter pilot (including Huey gunships in Viet Nam) friend of mine recommended it.
The lesson I took away from it is that when you come to junctions with choices, anticipate possible outcomes, and if you don't like outcomes, don't make that choice.

The Dude Fire on the Tonto NF in 1990 is another example:
1990's Dude Fire stands as example of extreme blaze

Now we have the Yarnell Hill Fire:
Yarnell Hill Fire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

 

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[pdx]

I don't know anything about wildfires, but I'm pretty well read when it comes to aviation and I can second the recommendation for Gann's, Fate is the Hunter.

You won't be dissapointed, it's my all time, hands down favorite read.

 

[taxifolia]

Thanks pdx.
I'm curious - I've read "Fate" 3 times. I don't think I've read my own words "when you come to junctions with choices, anticipate possible outcomes, and if you don't like outcomes, don't make that choice" -
but that is the exact and main lifetime lesson I got from it.

Did you get the same lesson ?

I bought "Fate" for my son when he started flying in his new Cessna Turbo a few years ago.

It applies to all things - wildfires are another prime example.

I firmly believe that any person new to aviation or wildfire should know that lesson.

I also firmly believe that any wildfire person should read at least the 3 books I recommend.
New recruits might be scared off if they knew the possible outcomes - but that is their choice, their lives.

Those books should be MANDATORY reading for at least any hotshot crew superintendent.
I think they make the decisions on whether or not to commit to engagement on assignments.