Yes, a worthwhile show to watch. The establishment of the USFS, the management of the nation's forests, the developing of conflicts between the logging industry (local settlements) and the conservationists are highlighted in the hour. Interesting as to how this is still being contested today. The inferno blew up and consumed millions of acres of forest (stated in the documentary as close to the size of Connecticut). This may happen again in the west, as the pine beetle has ravaged millions of acres and shows no signs of being defeated. The town of Vail, Colorado may be lost if all the right conditions converge some day soon; I believe this in my soul as a former firefighter in that valley.
"The Big Burn" by Timothy Egan (he is in this documentary) is my next read from the library in two weeks and hope to learn more details about that conflagration.
Two additional books that may be of interest on the history of wildland firefighting:
1. "Young Men and Fire" by Norman Maclean (same author of "A River Runs Through It").
2. "Fire on the Mountain" by John Maclean (Norman's son).
Both deal with tragic stories of firefighters who perished in similar situations but separated by some 45 years in time.
I'm waiting for a book to be written about the crew that died near Prescott, Arizona a couple of years ago. A movie was made, but I have not seen it. I want to know the details of the operation and how these men died in a blowup that seems to be of almost exact circumstances to the three above.
What has been learned in over a hundred years of man vs fire in the forests of North America? Man loses against nature every time when he thinks he is an overlord to the earth. Simple logic we should follow and but do not, it appears.
