FOR MY MOTHER WHO ENCOURAGED ME TO FOLLOW MY DREAMS MARK THIESSEN Copyright 2016 National Geographic Partners LLC For information about special discounts for bulk purchases please contact National Geographic Books Special Sales ngspecsales ngs org All rights reserved Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission from the publisher is prohibited For rights or permissions inquiries please contact National Geographic Books Subsidiary Rights ngbookrights ngs org Since 1888 the National Geographic Society has funded more than 12 000 research exploration and preservation projects around the world The Society receives funds from National Geographic Partners LLC funded in part by your purchase A portion of the proceeds from this book supports this vital work To learn more visit www flatgeo com info NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and Yellow Border Design are trademarks of the National Geographic Society used under license Designed by James Hiscott Jr Paperback ISBN 978 1 4263 2530 4 Reinforced library binding ISBN 978 1 4263 2531 I For more information visit www nationalgeographic com call 1 800 647 5463 or write to the following address National Geographic Partners LLC 1145 17th Street NW Washington D C 20036 4688 U S A Printed in China 16 PPS 1 Visit us online at nationalgeographic com books For librarians and teachers ngchildrensbooks org More for kids from National Geographic kids nationalgeographic com CC I'm supporting the Eric Marsh Foundation for Wildland Firefighters and I think you should too It's an all volunteer organization where 100 of your donations go directly to aid the families of fallen wildland firefighters Eric was one of the nineteen Granite Mountain Hotshots killed in the Yarnell Fire in 2013 Please support this foundation started by Eric's widow Amanda Please donate at ericmarshfoundationforwildlandfirefighters org Mark Thiessen
6 8 26 46 68 88 108 108 109 110 111 Credits A traller is engulfed by flames In California USA Introduction Chapter One The Science of Wildfire Chapter Two Battling Wildfire From the Ground Chapter Three Battling Wildfire From the Alr Chapter Four Ecology of a Wildfire Chapter Five Living With Wildfire Conclusion Resources Further Reading Glossary Glossary Index
INTRODUCTION Burning rangoland lilaho USA I AS IN IDAHO USA photographing firefighters as they came away from the front lines of a raging wildfire One by one they made their way into camp for some much needed food and rest They were all tired sweaty and dirty Then up walked a firefighter with a chain saw slung over his shoulder He was covered with soot and ash from head to toe The cleanest spots on him were the whites of his eyes Those eyes were what caught my attention They showed complete exhaustion yet they also showed pride in his work and determination to complete it To me this firefighter is typical of the brave men and women who battle blazes in forests grass lands scrublands and other wilderness areas The pay isn't great but they don't do it for the money In fact many wildland firefighters don't get paid at all In the United States nearly 80 percent of the first firefighters on the scene of a wildland fire are volunteers No matter how long on the job paid or unpaid these people see some of the most dramatic moments of their lives while fighting fires I first witnessed such moments while covering wildfires as a newspaper photographer It didn't take long for me to realize that fighting wildfires is more than a job it's a remarkable way of life I decided
then that I wanted to examine this way of life up close I began my project by becoming certified as a wildland firefighter This allowed me to share many of the firefighters experiences so I could better understand what they go through I then was able to use my camera to capture the drama of wildfires and tell the stories of the people who fight them I share some of those incredible moments and stories with you in this book What's it like to be in a burning forest as roaring flames race from tree to tree What goes through your mind as you are about to slide down a rope from a helicopter or parachute from a plane to fight a fire below How does it feel to get doused by a load of cold gooey fire retardant Get ready to find out on the pages that follow That's not all You'll learn the science behind wildfire how it starts how it spreads and how it's stopped You'll feel like you're battling the flames alongside the hotshots smoke jumpers and other wildland firefighters During our adventures you'll discover plenty of surprises like how some plants and animals depend on wildfire to survive We'll explore famous fires of the current and oth centuries some tragic but all with important lessons to offer You'll become fire smart as you learn how to prevent wildfires and how we can all live safely with this powerful force of nature I have photographed dozens and dozens of wildfires over the last 20 years You might wonder why I constantly put myself in such risky situations Safety is my top priority as it is for all firefighters Dangers are always present when fighting wildfires but there are ways to keep track of and minimize the risks Firefighters on the line accept these risks as they heroically do theirjobs I accept the risks for the privilege of telling their story Usually no one is there with the firefighters to document what they do to record the exciting moments as well as the quiet ones I'm determined to change that with my lifelong photography project This book is one of the results of that goal I hope firefighters can show it to their loved ones and say proudly This is what I do Mark Thiessen Mark Thiessen
