“Is it just me, or is it getting hot in here?” A book review by Glacier Conservancy Exec. Director Doug Mitchell

When I hiked to the ruin of Sperry Chalet in June of 2018 with then Glacier Superintendent Jeff Mow, the smell of the 2017 Sprague fire was an acrid and eerie presence nearly every step of the way. As we prepared to greet the workers who would, like all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, put Sperry back together again, we couldn’t help but be both awed and sobered by the power of the fire. Little did I know that not six weeks later those same workers, sent to restore the damage caused by an historic fire, would be looking down on another epic blaze - this time the Howe Ridge fire that burned some 14,500 acres in August of 2018.

Had I read Gary Ferguson’s book, Land on Fire – The New Reality of Wildfire in the West, when it was published in 2017 I would have known better. An expert in his field, he succinctly outlines the scientific realities of fire in the modern American west and makes a compelling case for changing the way we think about fires.

Artfully, he is able to avoid the political noise that too often accompanies a discussion of fire policy. While acknowledging the existence of different viewpoints, and the evolution of fire science over time, Ferguson’s extensively researched, fact-based analysis leaves divisive rhetoric behind in favor of a unified narrative about the changing realities of today’s ecosystem.

Equal parts history lesson, science seminar, and investigative journalism, Land on Fire takes readers on a well-organized exploration of one of the most pressing issues of our time. Ferguson starts by discussing how climate conditions, and hence fire behavior, have evolved throughout history. He then provides context for policy changes over the course of several decades, and gives us insights into the work of the brave firefighters on the front lines where many of the basic rules of engagement no longer apply.

Here in Glacier, listening to the briefings about the Sprague and Howe Ridge fires was to hear time and again experts saying things like “the fire didn’t behave the way the models said it should”, and “fires always used to calm down overnight, but not anymore”.

But Ferguson’s book is not a doomsday treatise. It is written from the perspective of the Montanan who cares deeply about the land. While he doesn’t pull any punches about the cost and causes of today’s climate crisis, he does spend considerable time exploring exactly what we can do to bend the trajectory of our future toward a healthier, sustainable environment.

Land on Fire is a powerful book of non-fiction written by an award-winning outdoor writer that is as beautiful as it is compelling. The photographs, satellite images, and visual global climate models add significantly to the impact of the work and are reason enough to find a place for Land on Fire on your bookshelf.

Even more reason though, is that like the best books of any genre, Land on Fire teaches us something, and calls us to action. Ferguson challenges us as readers to evaluate on our own the work he has so meticulously curated and to draw our own conclusions. In doing so he demonstrates great respect for his readers, and in return he, and this remarkable book, have earned mine.

Join the Glacier Book Club on Wednesday, March 9th at 6:30pm for a lively discussion with Doug Mitchell and author Gary Ferguson about his book Land on Fire. The club meets virtually and is free to all participants. Visit glacier.org or call 892-3250 to register.