THE MACLEAN BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE IN LIMITED NUMBERS, INCLUDING COLLECTIBLE EDITIONS.
For pricing and availability:
Multiple copies for staff rides and other purposes are available at discount.
Winner OF THE Mountains and Plains Award for best non-fiction, 1995
Fire on the Mountain
"THE DRAMATIC TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE SOUTH CANYON FIRE—THE DEVASTATING FOREST FIRE THAT TOOK THE LIVES OF FOURTEEN FIREFIGHTERS"
In this acclaimed bestseller of investigative journalism, John N. Maclean chronicles the deadly 1994 Colorado forest fire that was wrongly identified at the outset as occurring in South Canyon. This misidentification was the first in a string of seemingly minor human errors that would be compounded into one of the greatest tragedies in the annals of firefighting as fourteen men and women firefighters -- experts in their field -- lost their lives battling the South Canyon blaze.
This stunning reconstruction of the fire and its aftermath, drawn from Maclean's exhaustive research and countless interviews, reveals fascinating insights into what went wrong, and how so many top-notch firefighters fell victim to nature at its most unforgiving. A page-turning adventure narrative brimming with action and intensity, "Fire on the Mountain" offers a powerful and indelible profile of a special breed of people who put their lives on the line as part of their daily jobs.
PRAISE FOR FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN
“With a reporter’s objectivity and brisk prose... Maclean does bring the terrain and the fire to life with clarity and economy, and he paints a vivid portrait of the rugged firefighters who supply the most thrilling and saddest moments, men and women who displayed remarkable bravery and sheer physical effort.
Maclean handles their deaths respectfully and manages to communicate the lessons to be drawn about fire management in the course of a suspenseful narrative filled with admirable, everyday heroes.”
“Fire on the Mountain weaves together a tense narrative of almost cinematic action, starring ballsy cowboy smokejumpers, frustrated federal middle managers, seasoned hotshots flown in like commandos, pissed-off tanker pilots, and well-intentioned but spin-wary politicians. Maclean’s well-sketched personalities bring the action on the ground convincingly to life - and knowing up front that many of his main characters won’t survive South Canyon makes this tragic tale that much more compelling.”
“Expect high demand for this moving and gripping account of human tragedy, as it will be heavily promoted. Recommended for public and academic libraries.”
“Maclean combines clinical detachment with solemn engagement with the firefighters’ fate for a finely wrought factual and emotive record.”
“One of the very best writers to deal with the American West.”