YEAR OF THE FIRES The Story of the Great Fires of 1910

Hardback. The author examines the catastrophic 1910 wildfire season in the American West, known as the "Big Blowup," which scorched millions of acres across Idaho, Montana, and Washington, killing over 80 people. Pyne, a fire historian, vividly recounts the blazes fuelled by drought, logging debris, and fierce winds, overwhelming fledgling forest services. The book weaves narratives of firefighters, settlers, and rangers, highlighting their desperate battles against flames that reshaped fire policy. The disaster spurred the U.S. Forest Service’s aggressive fire-suppression approach, cementing its influence but sparking debates over fire management that persist today. The author's detailed research explores the socio-political context, including Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy and tensions between federal and local control. A compelling study of a pivotal moment in America’s environmental history, blending human drama with ecological insight. Illus., Dramatis Personae (their roles in 1910), Afterword, Notes, Sources and Index. 322pp. lge. 8vo. h/back. With small remainder mk. to lower edge o/w Nr. F. in F. protected dw.