Rating: 
Summary: WHEN TRUTH AND TRAGEDY COME TOGETHER
Review: John Maclean's "FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN" is subtitled "The True Story of The South Canyon Fire," and it is indeed the true story. Because the truth about what happened on that awful day in 1994 is so convoluted, so complex and multi-layered, and so strewn with conflicting viewpoints and cumulative errors and circumstances, writing the true story would have been impossible for anyone intimately involved with the fire. Maclean, however, brings his formidable background as a 30-year journalist to the story, and he makes the setting, the background, and the tragedy come alive for his readers.With meticulous attention to detail and the unflagging search for facts that only a professional journalist can bring to bear, Maclean waded through stacks and years of documents, reports, interviews, and background material to produce a book that exceeded all expectations. The subjects of the book - wildland firefighters and wildland fire managers in state and federal land management agencies - nearly all agree that it's an accurate portrayal of both the South Canyon Fire and also the world of wildland fire. It's honest, it's well researched, and it's a compellingly good read. It explains and answers the many questions that nagged those of us in fire after the 1994 season. If you're in fire, or you know someone who is, this book is mandatory.
Rating:
Summary: WHEN TRUTH AND TRAGEDY COME TOGETHER
Review: John Maclean's "FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN" is subtitled "The True Story of The South Canyon Fire," and it is indeed the true story. Because the truth about what happened on that awful day in 1994 is so convoluted, so complex and multi-layered, and so strewn with conflicting viewpoints and cumulative errors and circumstances, writing the true story would have been impossible for anyone intimately involved with the fire. Maclean, however, brings his formidable background as a 30-year journalist to the story, and he makes the setting, the background, and the tragedy come alive for his readers. With meticulous attention to detail and the unflagging search for facts that only a professional journalist can bring to bear, Maclean waded through stacks and years of documents, reports, interviews, and background material to produce a book that exceeded all expectations. The subjects of the book - wildland firefighters and wildland fire managers in state and federal land management agencies - nearly all agree that it's an accurate portrayal of both the South Canyon Fire and also the world of wildland fire. It's honest, it's well researched, and it's a compellingly good read. It explains and answers the many questions that nagged those of us in fire after the 1994 season. If you're in fire, or you know someone who is, this book is mandatory.
Rating:
Summary: A harrowing true story of some genuine heros
Review: Like "The Perfect Storm" and "Into Thin Air", Maclean's book is a modern tale of young physically fit people whose lives are snuffed out by the forces of nature. This time, however, the victims engaged in the risk in order to help others, which makes their deaths all the more tragic. Maclean's account reads like a novel and it is obvious that he knows this material well. His moment by moment description of the firefighters' attempted escape as the flames bore down on them is breathtaking. Overall, an excellent and heartbreaking true adventure story.
Rating: 
Summary: Gripping account of a needless tragedy
Review: Maclean has done a superb job telling the story of the South Canyon Fire. I heartily recommend this book. My only quibble is that he could have done a better job on the maps and pictures of the scene. Having hiked the actual location, I think Maclean's maps are too minimal compared to the detailed, minute-by-minute maps available on the internet version of the official report. Sometimes it's a little hard to follow Maclean's account due to the dearth of maps, but don't let that discourage you from reading this fine book.
Rating:
Summary: Very good book
Review: Maclean takes you to the mountain and puts you in the boots of those involved as much as any book can. Fire On The Mountain is a must read for anyone in the fire service...in any function. The results of a breakdown in the incident command structure is very well illustrated.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping!
Review: Maclean's meticulous research and fast-moving journalistic style make this book fascinating and exciting reading. His exploration of the collapse of command and control within two firefighting agencies should be studied by all who work within these agencies. Maclean's vivid descriptions of the environment on Storm King Mountain in July, 1994, will live long in your memory. If you are an outdoors person in the mountains of the Western U.S., you will likely never forget the lessons taught in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Young Men and Fire
Review: Maclean's work, "Young Men and Fire" starts to unravel myriad layers involved in modern firefighting and just why these layers can, have and will turn deadly. The number of "players" in the begining of the book can prove difficult to keep track of, but each is well researched and given a chance to speak. Although Maclean's opinions are not held back he does offer several different points of view contrary to his own and others. Despite a feeling that Maclean may be "blaming through hindsite" his offering comes closest to the fear and finality of working a wildfire gone bad. Perhaps Maclean's message, as was his father's, is that we haven't learned from the past. This is pointed up yet again in the near-tragedy this past summer in Nevada; that of six young firefighters being trapped on a ridge while a wildfire took a run at them. This incident wasn't made public til recently and the "blame" was the same as Mann Gulch, Storm King Mountain and the next blow-up that takes the lives of firefighters. Maclean's opinions aside, the book is a great read with an underlaying message of, "Never forget these lessons, let their sacrifices be enough."
Rating:
Summary: Young Men and Fire
Review: Maclean's work, "Young Men and Fire" starts to unravel myriad layers involved in modern firefighting and just why these layers can, have and will turn deadly. The number of "players" in the begining of the book can prove difficult to keep track of, but each is well researched and given a chance to speak. Although Maclean's opinions are not held back he does offer several different points of view contrary to his own and others. Despite a feeling that Maclean may be "blaming through hindsite" his offering comes closest to the fear and finality of working a wildfire gone bad. Perhaps Maclean's message, as was his father's, is that we haven't learned from the past. This is pointed up yet again in the near-tragedy this past summer in Nevada; that of six young firefighters being trapped on a ridge while a wildfire took a run at them. This incident wasn't made public til recently and the "blame" was the same as Mann Gulch, Storm King Mountain and the next blow-up that takes the lives of firefighters. Maclean's opinions aside, the book is a great read with an underlaying message of, "Never forget these lessons, let their sacrifices be enough."
Rating:
Summary: Now I know.
Review: My husband has been a wildland firefighter since 1993. I have always known his chosen field is a dangerous one, and after reading Maclean's book, I thank God for every time he has made it home safely. The book is filled with accurate descriptions of what firefighters do. I know this, because I questioned my husband extensively after I finished the book. I recommend the book to anyone interested in the life of a wildland firefighter. But be prepared to cry and question the wisdom of some of those in charge. I really enjoyed this book!
Rating: 
Summary: A disservice to the memory of his father and firefighters
Review: Norman Maclean, himself a former firefighter and woodsman, wrote an excellent account of the Mann Gulch fire. His work was tempered by the distance of time, benefit of age, and experience in the woods. This is obvious through his interaction with the survivors and his search for what happened on that hill. In contrast, John Maclean's account of the South Canyon fire is riddled with accusations, contradicitions of his own statements and interpretations, and a generally muckraking tone. There is searching for truth and then there is searching for animus. I wish he had left this story to those with a little more time in boots than in Chicago. Punctuation seemed OK - 1 star is generous.
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