Wildfire

February 15, 2018

Embedded in the world of wildland firefighting with the crew of Station 8 in Boulder, CO, journalist Hansen seeks to understand the culture of forest firefighting as well as the policies and practices that have led to the current situation of more extreme fires. The applications and theories the author learns, as well as the crew itself, are put to the test in 2016 with the Cold Springs fire in the Colorado foothills near Nederland. Hansen's in-depth look at the personalities and individuals that make up wildland firefighting crews shows how wildland firefighters train for, exercise together, and fight an actual fire. Sprinkled throughout the book is a survey of the history and science of forest fires and the predominant policies and practices that have guided wildfire fighting. With climate change, the population growth of people in fire-prone areas and more intense fire behavior, wildland firefighting is becoming more complicated and expensive, with more lives and structures at risk than ever before. VERDICT A pertinent book for general readers but especially for those living in the western United States and fire-prone areas.--Laura Hiatt, Fort Collins, CO

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