Firestorm

October 1, 2017

Opening with a vivid recounting of 2016's Fort McMurray Fire, which caused the biggest fire evacuation in Canada's history, Struzik (Future Arctic) explains how climate change and fire suppression in North America has brought about the current era of still evolving super fires. Capable of producing their own weather patterns, these once rare blazes are now becoming commonplace. As in Michael Kodas's Megafire, Struzik examines individual fires to show how, in addition to drought, insects and disease help to create perfect conditions for flames. He also explains new challenges to firefighting, such as dealing with asbestos-covered trees or Superfund areas, and that firefighting veterans often battle unburnable substances while putting their health at risk. With longer seasons and more people moving to the woods, the scale of future fires promises to overthrow McMurray's record soon. VERDICT As greater and more destructive fires become the norm, this narrative should be required reading for anyone living in an area under the threat of fire as well as those looking to understand its evolution.--Venessa Hughes, Buffalo, NY

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