A group of loggers ignited a fire in a drought area that soon burned out of their control. The fire burned 3 million acres of forest and killed more than 160 people. The most devastating fire in U.S history in terms of human lives and property lost was in Peshtigo, Wisconsin in 1871. The fire killed 1,300 people in a single night. More than 1 million acres were burned.
Wildfire is a serious matter .
I present a collection of final reports on four important fires. These fires and their consequent review, more than anything else, has influenced the direction of fire protection in North America. In the light of recent events at Los Alamos, New Mexico, these reports stand as a reminder of just how vulnerable we all are. Only three survived. The tragedy dealt a major blow to the U.S. Forest Service, which had not experienced a fatality during a decade of smokejumping.