Customer Reviews

Fire on the Rim: A Firefighter's Season at the Grand Canyon

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great book, written not from a journalistic point of view nor from an official point of view, but from that of somebody who was a fire boss for over a decade on the Grand Canyon's North Rim fire crew. Written as fiction, although it is based on actual events with only the names changed. Edward Abbey, who worked in a fire tower on the North Rim for a couple of seasons, makes a thinly-disguised cameo appearance here as "Abner". Effectively captures the work, the culture, and the humor of forest firefighters in a way that no other book I've read has. If you're at all interested in the subject I'd recommend picking this up.

This is often a great read but some fiction is mixed in. On page 283 the author states "There were two full (CCC) companies on the North Rim each summer; during the winter one company relocated to Phantom Ranch, and the other to the South Rim." Fact: The CCC were on the North Rim a total of eight summers, 1933 thru 1940 inclusive. Only one summer, 1938, were there two companies, namely 2833 and 3318. Only for three winters did a North Rim company (818) move to Phantom Ranch. Only for two winters did a North Rim company (2833) move to the South Rim. The author tends to paint his word pictures with a very broad brush. Perhaps that broad brush misses some of the important specifics.

I have long been a fan of Stephen J Pyne who is, in my opinion, the best author on fire in the world. Some of his books do get a bit technical but he always realizes he is sailing over his readers' knowledge level and quickly brings it back down for the non-professional reader.
I have read many of his books but somehow missed this one. It is, in essence, a more personal volume than his other books because it relates his experience fighting fire. That closeness to the flames is an added bonus to his library of work.
If you have read Pyne, you know what I mean.
If you have not, and are at all interested in fire and its impacts, both positive and negative, on our country and society, this is an excellent way to meet the man who will tell you everything you want to know.

This book describes a seasonal firefighters job in 1977. This was before the advent of much of the specialized equipment used today. He also capture the essencial conflict between the resource/ranger staffs and real live firefighters. Reading this book I can feel the B2 unit digging into my back from my green canvas backpack.