The Thirtymile Fire: A Chronicle of Bravery and Betrayal

John Norman Maclean's latest book, The Thirtymile Fire, has a provocative subtitle: Chronicle of Bravery and Betrayal. As the authors points out, the Thirtymile Fire is a study in things gone wrong, but it is also a stepping stone opportunity to bring out the best in the best and search for positive options for the future. John leaves little unturned about this fire. Along with the "bravery", the book is a forthright analysis of the "betrayals" experienced in this event. He attempts to provide the reader with an insight into the psychology of how personalities can make or break a deadly situation. John cogently describes the moment by moment movements of a crew of young people destined with their own lives to bring this fire and the issues surrounding many like them to the forefront of the national conscience. The book discusses the legal precedents this fire has already set and describes some of what might yet become of the litigation still in the process of finding closure. Additionally however, the book also sets the tone for asking the question, "what have our forests become?" As a professor of land issues, I find this book, along with some of John's other works, excellent background reading for courses dealing with the management of fire and public land in general. The Thirtymile Fire, Chronicle of Bravery and Betrayal, is the textbook on this fire. A podcast interview with John Maclean can be found at Acoustic Space from Eastern Oregon University.

John's fire knowledge has favorably increased since "Fire on the Mountain". I think the subtitle "A chronical of bravery and betrayal" is hokey, he needs to lose the Hollywood drama. But, a riveting book for wildland firefighters.

John Maclean, author of two previous award-winning books on disastrous wildfires, has written a third -- this one chronicling the Thirtymile Fire that killed four firefighters in 2001 in the Chewuch River canyon in northeast Washington. The fire, which initially appeared to be a quick suppression effort with a bit of mop-up, spiraled out of control into a disaster fire that burned over 9,000 acres. Four young firefighters were killed, several others were injured, and one survived severe burns. A fatal fire that brought change to the firefighting world -- like the South Canyon Fire before it -- the Thirtymile will remain an historic marker for decades to come because of its aftermath. The official investigations that followed the fire were even more controversial than those that followed the 1994 South Canyon Fire in Colorado. One Thirtymile investigation concluded with the filing of federal charges against Ellreese Daniels, the incident commander on the fire. He was indicted on four felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and seven counts of lying to investigators. This book profiles the firefighters on the fire and details the events and issues that combined for the perfect set-up for a perfectly disastrous fire. Maclean walks readers through the early stages of the fire, documenting the little mistakes and the big unknowns that all came together on a hot July afternoon -- exactly seven years after the South Canyon Fire killed 14 firefighters. Maclean divides the story into three parts, starting with detailed portrayals of the firefighters and other people involved in the fire. He offers just enough background information for readers to comprehend the human factors aspects that contributed to the set-up for a disastrous fire. The book's second section details the initial attack on the fire, cataloguing a long list of little mistakes and big bad luck. Finally, the third section brings it all together - with an almost eerie conclusion. Most wildland firefighters and fire managers have read Maclean's first two books, Fire On The Mountain and Fire and Ashes. This third effort is his best yet, and will be required reading for those who study wildland fire safety. The book will be a hot topic on online wildfire forums, and there'll doubtless be at least one copy in every crew buggy in the country.

Maclean did an excellent job of portraying the events that unfolded during that fateful day, and that was no easy task, given the confusion and miscommunications that transpired. At times I felt as though I was right there. Parts of the book brought me to tears, while others parts made me so angry at the bureaucratic mess, backtracking and second-guessing. This book is a MUST read for anyone in fire, it can happen to you! I have a personal interest in the book, my husband and son both are wildland firefighters. The legal ramifications, yet to come, are being closely watched, for they will determine the future path of fire fighting

This was a very difficult subject and John Maclean covered all of the elements of this tragedy exceptionally well. Once again, he puts in some miles to get to the root of the story. Very well written. I was on the Naches crew for several years, and have visited the Thirtymile memorial. Mr. Maclean gets to the essence of why anyone would want to fight wildland fire. Highly recommended.