This is the first post on this blog in nearly 5 years. Originally,this post was supposed to be an all encompassing post about fire....it got too long and is being split into 2-3 posts. As this is the first post in nearly five years, this post is something of a Phoenix, consistent with the theme.
Today, Aug. 5, 2019 is the 70 year anniversary of the Mann Gulch Fire. Mann Gulch is a ravine in Montana that feeds into the Missouri River there. Now, why would an Oklahoma flatlander take note or remember such a date for an event in Montana. Answer? The truth is I didn't remember, but it popped up in my Facebook feed from several other contacts. But, my interest in it is genuine. More on that in a moment from the book I read in my 20s: "Young Men and Fire."
Never heard of the Mann Gulch Fire? Option 1: Read this post. Option 2: Read the linked article. Option 3: Read the book I will briefly outline at the end.
Mann Gulch Fire: The brief (and quite likely butchered) version of this story begin 70 years ago today: Aug 5, 1949. A forest fire broke out (due to lightning strike) in a remote region of central Montana. The exact location was Mann Gulch, a ravine that fed into the Missouri River. A plane full of Forest Service employees known as "Smokejumpers" were tasked with the duty to jump out of the plane with parachutes and tools, join up, and cut fire breaks and fight the fire. While en route to a fighting point where they could safely position themselves between the Missouri River and the fire, the fire switched directions, the wind speed increased, and the fire 'blew up' accelerating up the mountainside, cutting off nearly all ways of escape for the Smokejumpers. Thirteen of the sixteen Smokejumpers at Mann Gulch died immediately that day, and the lessons learned changed fire fighting strategies on into the future.
A story of commemoration from the Missoulian:
https://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/a-retrospective-on-montana-s-mann-gulch-fire/article_372068a9-aa59-5f97-adb8-19e9b13a9538.html?utm_content=buffer5774d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=LEEDCC&fbclid=IwAR310CVHHY3fWIdCE4lXpbbt6jFwD8nDCM97NImKok0Mo9TgLtXpGiJgClg
(If link becomes broken, the link was to a 8-5-2019 story about the Mann Gulch Fire 70 years later in the Missoulian, written by March Childress.)
How did I come to ever learn about this fire and its history? I read a wonderful little book in my 20s entitled "Young Men and Fire" by Norman MacLean. I don't recall how or who recommended it to me, but I'm so glad they did. The book is non-fiction and is mostly biographical about the people who fought and died that fateful day. And believe it or not, you've heard of the author Norman MacLean......."A River Runs Through It"? The movie many of you love and enjoy is a short story written by Norman MacLean. He wrote many other books.
Anyway, to bring this meandering post to a close, I truly appreciate firefighters. Truly, all Americans hold a nostalgic spot in our hearts for all first responders, but I hold an extra measure of appreciation for firefighters, especially volunteer fire departments that service rural areas around the nation. Living through the drought of Oklahoma 2011-2014, the volunteer firefighter should have been the Time Man of the Year one of those years. By now, certainly 99.9% of the world has forgotten the Mann Gulch Fire, but this little post hopefully serves as tribute to our current firefighters and is a tribute to their bravery and to the bravery of those 13 brave young men that died that day, and hopefully, for the handful that read this, you might have learned something about some true American heroes.
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