Product Description
The worst hard-rock mining disaster in American history began a half hour before midnight on June 8, 1917, when fire broke out in the North Butte Mining Companys Granite Mountain shaft. Sparked more than two thousand feet below ground, the fire spewed flames, smoke, and poisonous gas through a labyrinth of underground tunnels. Within an hour, more than four hundred men would be locked in a battle to survive. Within three days, one hundred and sixty-four of them would be dead. Fire and Brimstone recounts the remarkable stories of both the men below ground and their families above, focusing on two groups of miners who made the incredible decision to entomb themselves to escape the gas. While the disaster is compelling in its own right, Fire and Brimstone also tells a far broader storystriking in its contemporary relevance. Butte, Montana, on the eve of the North Butte disaster, was a volatile jumble of antiwar protest, an abusive corporate master, seething labor unrest, divisive ethnic tension, and radicalism both left and right. It was a powder keg lacking only a spark, and the mine fire would ignite strikes, murder, ethnic and political witch hunts, occupation by federal troops, and ultimately a battle over presidential power. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

An incredible story, and a quick read
This book was highly recommended to me and I was a bit suspicious of how interesting the story of a mine disaster could really be. But this story is amazing and very well told. It's more than just the mine fire itself, which is a stunning tale of tragedy and bravery, but also of the corporate machinations that surrounded Montana copper mining. This is a quick read and even those who have limited interest in history will likely enjoy this story.

A Butte native's perspective
Michael Punke did a good job of researching this incident and later relating it to Montana's history during that time period.Because I was born and raised in Butte, I found myself visualizing much of what happened in the disaster.Thanks to the author, we have one more window with which to view Butte's and Montana's past.

Butte Mining History told from the Miners Perspective
My grandfather died in the Butte mines decades after the Speculator/Granite Mountain disasters.This is an excellent book interweaving the story of the worst hard rock mining disaster to occur in the US with the story of Butte at its apex.I could not put this down as I quickly turned the pages to learn the fate of Manus Duggan.Read Glasscock's War of the Copper Kings for more details regarding Clark, Daly and Heinze.

"Butte's villains are more villainous, its heroes more heroic, its wealth more extravagant, its poverty more grinding"
Fire and Brimstone is not just about the fire that broke out in the Granite Mountain mine in Butte, Montana on June 8, 1917 and the death of 163 miners, it is also about the mining industry of Montana and its sociopolitical impact on the state in general and the town of Butte in particular. Punke's coverage of Burton K. Wheeler towards the end of the book veers away from the main storyline and is the reason for the dropped star.

The story begins with an accident involving a 1,200 foot, 3-ton cable that would lead to the fire. Like the Cherry Mine (Illinois) disaster covered in the book Trapped by Karen Tintori, there is a story of men attempting to return to the fire-engulfed mine to rescue doomed miners only to be caught in a cage when the hoist signals stopped working (pg. 13).This story is not near as heroic and horrifying as Tintori's, however.

The book skips to give background information on the Montana "Copper Kings" William Clark and Marcus Daly during the latter half of the 19th century later to be joined in competition by Fritz Heinze.The background showed to what extent political corruption shaped the mining industry in Montana controlled by the Anaconda and, later, Standard Amalgamated Oil.

By far, the best part of the book covers the efforts to survive by two separate groups of miners.Each group was organized by a savvy, confident man of strong personality.The group that is more detailed is the one led by a young nipper Manus Duggan.Although he did not have a commanding position in the mine, he understood what was needed for survival and oversaw the careful construction of a bulkhead and the continuous rotation of the other 28 miners in his group to circulate the air.Another group of ten miners was led by shift boss J.D. Moore.Both leaders faced down and prevented challenges to their authority as well as attempts by the other miners to escape the bulkhead too soon.Many of these miners owed their lives to those two men.

The story of the trapped miners was so intriguing it was maddening when the book reverted to more background information.Once the fire and its aftermath was covered, the book shifted focus to the labor union situation in Butte (the AFL vs. the IWW), the brutal demise of IWW executive chairman Frank Little, and quite a bit of information on Senator Burton K. Wheeler (D. A. during the tragedy and the ugly situation brought on by the competing labor unions)who was an important player in FDR's administration.These sidelines (especially the labor unions) have a relation to the Butte mining disaster, of course, but as the book moves into the 1930s and 1940s, the tragedy seems to be left behind save for when Wheeler referenced it in one of his writings.Parts read like a brief history of WWII, over a generation removed from the mining tragedy.Then it is revealed that the Granite Mt./Speculator mines had been closed all that time (since 1923).

The book ends with an update on the town of Butte that makes one wonder why people still live there.There is four pages of photographs included with a few relating directly to the mining disaster.There is only one picture of a miner (a doctored newspaper photo of Duggan) which was disappointing but I guess that's probably the only one that exists or is available.

Compelling Read
Michael Punke has an incredible ability to make the story jump off the page.Too many non-fiction writers are turgid; Punke is anything but.I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Tragically, a good book!
This "two volumes in one" book deals with extreme opposites on the tragedy scene in Wisconsin.

"Fire" refers to the Great Peshtigo Fire of Peshtigo, Wisconsin. You may or may not have heard of it.It occurred the same night as the Great Chicago Fire. Obviously, we nowknow which conflagration received more press. The fact is, more peopledied, more property was destroyed, and a larger area was burned in thePeshtigo Fire than in Chicago.

"Ice" refers to tragedies on theGreat Lakes around Wisconsin.

If you can get a copy of this book, I urgeyou to do so. It is well worth reading! ... Read more

Product Description
In the fall of 1918, devastating forest fires sweptacross a major portion of northeastern Minnesota.Drawing on bothpublished survivors' accounts and on trial testimony never publicized,the authors bring to light this saga of destruction, resurrection, andresilience in the face of adversity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The Fires of Autumn-The Cloquet-Moose Lake Disaster of 1918

These are the type of books I enjoy - real events and how real people survived and moved ahead.
Well-written, interesting pics, in-depth background stories.

Awesome
This book was so interesting I couldn't put it down. I loved it and it is a part of Minnesota History and what some people in earlier days endured.

Well written but a tad dry
I found "The Fires of Autumn" to be a very well researched book that I thought to be somehow lacking when portraying the human drama of the event.A goodly portion of the book, more than I thought was warrented, is devoted to the court battles that sprung from the fires and I think more space could and should have been devoted to dealing with the actual fire itself.After reading the excellent "Under a Flaming Sky" concerning the Hinkley Fire I found this book to be very dry and lacking in color.

educational and interesting
this book gives an educational view of the town of Cloquet, as well as interesting accounts of events that happened.

THIS IS A LOCAL READ
In the fall of 1918, forest and wild fires devastated significant areas of Minnesota, killing anywhere from 400 to 1000 people.This book tells the story of these fires and the subsequent recovery of the region.While a valuable work on the topic, the book is not that interesting.We learn many details about the event, but the fire comes across more as a distant historical event than as a great tragedy.And little is said about how the residents planned to handle future fires.The book seems to have been intended for a local audience. Outsiders may find it hard to identify with the communities described. ... Read more

Product Description
The horrific true story of the world's worst offshore oil disaster.

The fire was visible seventy miles away as a distant, flickering flame on the horizon. The heat generated was so intense that a helicopter could only circle at a perimeter of one mile. Flying at a height of 200 feet, the air crew saw that the tongues of flame extended high above the rotor blades. On the surface a converted fishing trawler inched as close as possible, but the paint on the vessel's hull blistered and burnt, and the rope handrails began to smoke. In the water surrounding the inferno, men's heads could be seen bobbing like apples as their yellow hard hats melted with the heat.

At the centre stood, at least for now, the Piper Alpha oil platform, 110 miles northeast of Aberdeen, once the world's single largest oil producer. On 6 July 1988, its final day, it was ablaze with 226 men onboard. Only sixty-one would survive.

Fire in the Night will tell, for the first time and in gripping detail, the devastating story of that summer evening. Combining interviews with survivors, witness statements and transcripts from the official enquiry into the disaster, this is the moving and vivid tale of what happened on that fateful night inside an oil rig inferno. ... Read more

Product Description
Discusses the 1911 fire that killed 146 New York garment factory workers, the conditions that led up to it, and some of the legislation that came about to prevent the occurrence of similar disasters. ... Read more

Product Description
Examines, using eyewitness accounts, the tragedy that killed 146 workers in a New York City garment factory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Winner of the NYPL "Best Books for the Teen Age" Award
This is an excellent history of the disastrous 1911 fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory. Included in the account is carefully researched background information on labor and workplace regulations in the U.S. during the era of the fire. The author also adds a look at contemporary labor problems, and includes a cautionary chapter about why similar tragedies have occurred in recent years. A fine book, written for teens but interesting for adults as well. ... Read more

Product Description
Texas Disasters traces major catastrophes in a larger-than-life state with no need for exaggeration. These captivating narratives highlight the human drama in episodes like the Branch-Dividian Holocaust, the Columbia Disaster, the New London School Explosion, the Big Drift, the Waco Tornado, the Destruction of Texas Indians, and the Texas City Explosion ... Read more

Product Description
In this new book, Bill Kramer examines the complexities of disaster planning and control, covering the concepts of disaster management, development of disaster and emergency operation plans, and much more. Through examples and case studies, the book is designed to allow the fire officer to study how the fire service has been involved with responding to various disasters and, by learning from the past and understanding the concepts presented, make a difference in the overall outcome of future events.



Disaster Planning and Control will be an invaluable resource for anyone involved in disaster response--from the frontline worker to the highest elected official.This book is written to the FESHE model curriculum for the Disaster Planning and Recovery course. ... Read more

Product Description
This book will help you respond to disasters with the necessary operational procedures to save lives and property. The first moments of any incident can set the tone for the entire operation. Includes information on training, planning and procedures, communication, handling casualties, infrastructure assessment, recovery operations, and stress debriefing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The collector's item of the 20th Century!
This book is renowned as THE collector's item of the 20th Century. It's reputation precedes it due to the fact that when the authors' decided to publish an updated second edition, they felt it extremely necessary to include the now infamous Chapter 13, titled as "Enemy Attack And The UFO Potential."

This was confirmed in a highly revealing interview with one of the authors on "Sightings," a popular weekly television show hosted by Tim Rice and produced by Henry Winkler during the 1990s.

Inheriting Leonard Nimoy's "In Search Of" legacy, which aired during the 1970s, "Sightings" drew a tremendous audience during the 1990s as it explored and analyzed many different aspects of the paranormal and metaphysical genres.

When the "Sightings" crew focused their interest on the "Fire Officer's Guide to Disaster Control, Second Edition," it gave the book, its authors and its controversial Chapter 13 a level of public exposure that basically ripped the rug out from under any false notions that UFOs or alien craft were not real local, state or national issues.

I got my hands on a copy by calling Fire Engineering Books and Videos and pretending to be a firefighter. This was just before they caught on as to what was happening due to public interest generated by the "Sightings" episode.


Anecdote 1:

An atheist/agnostic friend of mine had read Chapter 13 and her comments were as such: "I can't believe this! This is absolutely shocking to me! Anyone who is the least bit mentally imbalanced would surely commit suicide after reading this!"

What amazed her the most was its casual, professional, matter-of-fact approach - as if to say this happens everyday for firefighters.


Anecdote 2:

My brother, who had just started his own trucking delivery service at the time, had actually crossed paths with the warehouse that stored and shipped copies of "Fire Officer's Guide to Disaster Control" for the publishing house. While making a delivery, he spotted the books stacked on pallets in the warehouse and, knowing a good opportunity when he sees one, decided to ask about the Second Edition.

The guys in the warehouse looked at each other and then back at my brother. They began to smile, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "You're talking about that Chapter 13, right?" they asked. They already knew why he was inquiring. They told him that everyone always asks about that edition and that chapter.

Are You Sure You Want THIS Job?
This book is a broad study of about all the large disasters a Fire Officer might need to understand something about.There are statistics, and some very good facts about the many subjects including myths and misconceptions.And UFOs.The chapters are well organized and the print is large enough for relaxed reading.The book is written in a casual, but professional style that keeps your interest.
I recommend it for any EMS, Fire, or civil defense/preparedness students or professionals.The only reason for a 4/5 rating is the broadness of each subject.Anyone in the business knows each chapter is worth a book all by itself.This work is a great accomplishment and my copy cost $55 in 1995.Its only slightly dated, HazMat is still chemicals, riots are bad, Terrorism is still violent.These authors did a great job!

Defintely the MOST comprehensive disaster control book...
How many other books of this type have a chapter concerning how to deal with a UFO crash?Seriously, Chapter 13 is entitled "Enemy Attack and UFO Potential."I've always been a skeptic concerning these types of things, but when a completely serious book like this has a chapter about dealing with UFOs (and one of the authors claims to have seen one), you just have to wonder... ... Read more

Product Description
Discusses different kinds of forest fires, what causes them, where they occur, and how they can be prevented. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

fascinating narrative of 2 disasters in one year
This book gives a narrative history of 2 separate disasters that happened in the northwest US in 1910.
One was an avalanche that killed 96 people at Wellington, Washington.Most victims were train passengers or railroad employees.The book details how the intense winter storms stranded the trains at Wellington; the frantic, around the clock attempts to open the tracks; the avalanche itself and its aftermath.
The second disaster was a firestorm in the mountains between Idaho and Montana in August 1910.The storm destroyed millions of acres of timber and burned many towns.She includes detailed information on how individual townspeople, fire fighters and others evaluated the pending disaster, what action they took to survive and the outcomes.
Her writing style is straightforward and easy to read.For both events, Ms. Hult was able to communicate with many survivors and she provides a detailed list of survivors and decedents and a bibliography of sources for additional information.

Exciting History
I am an avid fan of good historical writing and Northwest Disaster is one of the best.It's acurate depiction of the people, region and era will add to the fast paced story. It is actually two stories that grabbed the headlines long ago and will keep you up all night wondering how it all ends.If you enjoy stories like "Disaster, the Great San Francisco Fire" or "Into Thin Air" you will love this one.

Northwest Disaster: Fire and Avalanche by Ruby El Hult
This book contains wonderfully researched and interestingly presented reports of two unforeseen major disasters that occurred in 1910 in the mountainous regions of Washington, Idaho, and Montana.The heroism of many of the people involved, the desperate actions by many to alleviate the suffering and loss of others are truly inspiring.These are not boring recountings of facts but true stories of human courage and responsible behavior in the face unbelievable odds. ... Read more

Product Description
A forest fire is any uncontrolled, non-structure fire that occurs in the wilderness. Wildlife behavior is often complex and variably dependent on factors such as fuel type, moisture content in the fuel, humidity, wind speed, topology, geographic location and ambient temperature. Weather patterns, such as heat waves droughts can also have a dramatic impact on the onset and outcome of wildfires. Fire is sometimes essential for forest regeneration, however, it often destroys forests and has dire social and economic consequences. This book looks at the underlying causes of forest fires, their ecological effects and preventive strategies. ... Read more

Product Description
This is one of the many gripping accounts of victims who have had to battle for their lives against the elements and other unforeseen disasters that have occurred in Montana. Taut with the fury of catastrophes and the courageous efforts of men and women to save lives, Montana Disasters takes you to the scenes of the fires of 2000, landslides in Yellowstone National Park, and other places where the forces of nature and humans wreaked havoc.

Montana Disasters is a real-life thriller. It will leave you with the breathless sense of how it feels to be caught in mining catastrophes, flash floods, fires, and more. It will expose you to the sorrow and elation of victims' friends and families. Brace yourself for this vivid chronicle of terror, triumph, and tragedy. ... Read more

Product Description
Discusses the causes of various types of fires, how they spread, and some of the major fire disasters. ... Read more

Product Description
Included in this volume are accounts of the great firethat destroyed much of London in 1666, the great Chicago fire of 1871,the Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood of 1889, and more.

About the Natural Disasters series:This series gives vivid accounts of natural catastrophes and why they happened. Encompassing school subject areas of geography, science, and geology, these books also offer eye-witness accounts from survivors. All are filled with full-color illustrations in attractive, accessible magazine-style formats. They're great for school-related papers and projects, and also provide fun reading for the entire family. Each volume contains between 70 and 110 color illustrations. Ages 10 and older.

Titles in the Natural Disasters series include:EarthquakesFire & FloodHurricanes & TornadoesVolcanoes ... Read more

Product Description
Briefly discusses the origin, uses, starting, and hazards of fire; some famous blazes; and protection from fire, including the use of home fire drills and smoke detectors. ... Read more