On the Fireline: Living and Dying with Wildland Firefighters (Fieldwork Encounters and Discoveries)

In this rugged account of a rugged profession, Matthew Desmond explores the heart and soul of the wildland firefighter. Having joined a firecrew in Northern Arizona as a young man, Desmond relates his experiences with intimate knowledge and native ease, adroitly balancing emotion with analysis and action with insight. On the Fireline shows that these firefighters aren't the adrenaline junkies or romantic heroes as they're so often portrayed. An immersion into a dangerous world, On the Fireline is also a sophisticated analysis of a high-risk profession—and a captivating read. "Gripping . . . a masterful account of how young men are able to face down wildfire, and why they volunteer for such an enterprise in the first place."—David Grazian, Sociological Forum "Along with the risks and sorrow, Desmond also presents the humor and comaraderie of ordinary men performing extraordinary tasks. . . . A good complement to Norman Maclean's Young Men and Fire . Recommended."— Library Journal Burning To Death Is A Hellish Way To Die. Yet Every Year Men And Women Across The Country Risk Their Lives For Low Pay To Fight Forest Fires. Living In Remote Encampments And Isolated From Their Friends And Family, These Firefighters Stand Ready To Chase Smoke At A Moment's Notice. And When A Fire Does Break Out, They Face A Chaotic Inferno Armed With Hand Tools, Hard Hats, And Little Else. So What Motivates Them To Put Their Lives On The Line And Face Heat So Intense It Can Melt Steel? In This Account Of A Rugged Profession, Matthew Desmond Explores The Heart And Soul Of The Wildland Firefighter. Having Joined A Firecrew In Northern Arizona As A Young Man, Desmond Relates His Experiences With Intimate Knowledge And Native Ease, Adroitly Balancing Emotion With Analysis, Action With Insight. On The Fireline Shows That These Firefighters Aren't The Adrenaline Junkies Or Romantic Heroes They're So Often Portrayed As. Their Choice To Take On Such Hazardous Work Grows Naturally From The Values Of Their Rural, Working-class Upbringing. And The Forest Service Cannily Taps Into - Indeed, Relies Upon - Their Background As It Conditions Them To Risk Their Lives And Stay Calm In The Face Of Danger. Along With Exploring How Firefirghters Become Acclimated To The Hazards Of The Job, On The Fireline Candidly Examines The More Everyday Facets Of Their Lives As Well - We Hear Their Jokes, Witness Their Fights, And Observe The Close Bonds They Form While Waiting For The Next Alarm To Sound.--jacket. Introduction -- Pt. 1. History And Place -- 1. Country Masculinity -- 2. The Sanctuary Of The Forest -- Pt. 2. Training And Discipline -- 3. A Joke Between Brothers -- 4. Real Firefighters Drive Green Engines -- 5. Learning And Burning -- 6. Taking The Wild Out Of Wildfire -- Pt. 3. Fire And Death -- 7. The Beaver Creek Fire -- 8. The Incompetent Dead -- Conclusion -- Appendix : Between Native And Alien -- Glossary -- Notes -- Acknowledgments -- Index. Matthew Desmond. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 313-353) And Index. Burning to death is a hellish way to die. Yet every year men and women across the country risk their lives for low pay to fight forest fires. Living in remote encampments and isolated from their friends and family, these firefighters stand ready to chase smoke at a moment's notice. And when a fire does break out, they face a chaotic inferno armed with only hand tools, hard hats, and little else. So what motivates them to put their lives on the line and face heat so intense it can melt steel?In this rugged account of a rugged profession, Matthew Desmond explores the heart and soul of the wildla Journeys inside the dangerous world of wildland firefighters to explore the reasons why men and women across the country risk their lives for low pay to fight forest fires, detailing the hazards and hardships of their career, the everyday facets of their lives, and the uniquely close bonds they form amongst themselves.