Most people today know little about Denver s fiery past.
Through vivid historical illustrations, eyewitness accounts, historical records, diaries of ordinary citizens and dozens of interviews with current and retired firefighters, Denver Post columnist Dick Kreck describes the power of fire and the deadly results of its fury in Colorado and the West. As yellowish gray clouds of smoke swirled around him, he tried without success to attract the attention of the crowd gathered below. Finally, in desperation, he waved his soft, gray hat, hoping firefighters would come to his rescue. Then, suddenly, The Denver Post s reporter wrote, the man s hand relaxed. The hat dropped straight, brushed against the wires and tumbled to the alley.