I live in wildfire country. Where I live, no matter what time of year it is one can’t be careless with flame. Ever. But that’s especially true during the Santa Ana season, which begins more or less next week and ends usually in December. For those of you who don’t know what Santa Ana season is, it’s the time of year when winds blow off the Nevada/Eastern California deserts bringing with them extremely dry and hot weather. Santa Ana season turns the part of Southern California where I live into a tinderbox. Want to know what it’s like when there’s a wildfire nearby? Imagine sitting with your spouse or partner, discussing exactly what each of you will take with you if you’re given the 10-minute evacuation order. Imagine going out to your car in the morning and finding it heavily sprinkled with ashes that used to be a housing development to the east. Imagine the sky you’re accustomed to turning coppery red and grey and looking like a post-apocalyptic film. And then there’s the matter of trying to get your dogs outside when they’re smart enough to know how dangerous it is out there. It’s not pretty. Trust me. And that is why I have the utmost respect, admiration and appreciation for firefighters.
Firefighters will do anything it takes, including giving up their own lives, to try to keep other people safe. They go into situations that the rest of us couldn’t possibly imagine. They have helped keep my home and my family safe more than once. You can’t find words to express the kind of gratitude I owe the brave men and women who steer us all through wildfire season. And they don’t go about bragging either. To them it’s simply doing their jobs. There are lots and lots of accounts of real-life firefighters whose bravery is remarkable. For example, there are the London firefighters whose incredible courage kept that city going during World War II. There are also the firefighters who risked and lost their lives during the 11 September, 2001 attacks in New York City and Washington DC. There are many, many others too.
There are also fictional firefighters who’ve shown us just a little of what it’s like to fight fires. For example, in Deborah Crombie’s In a Dark House we meet firefighter Rose Kearny, who’s called with her team to the scene of a fire in a Southwark warehouse owned by MP Michael Yarwood. As the firefighters are going through the building they discover the body of an unidentified woman. So Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his team are called in to investigate. With help from Kincaid’s partner DI Gemma James, Kincaid discovers that the woman could be one of four women who’ve gone missing. As they’re trying to find out which of the women is the victim, there’s another fire. And another. Rose Kearny finds a link between the fires and when she shares it with Kincaid he’s able to find out what’s behind this rash of arson crimes. This novel includes a compelling look at the way firefighters do their jobs, the camaraderie they have and the way they depend on each other when there is a fire.
We also see that in Nevada Barr’s Firestorm. In that novel, U.S. National Park Service Ranger Anna Pigeon has been sent to Northern California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park. A wildfire – the Jackville Fire – has broken out and Pigeon is serving as a medic. She’s been assigned to a spike camp, a small temporary camp set up as close to the fire area as safety allows. At first, weather predictions are for cold weather and snow to move in so it looks as though the team will be able to leave the area. Pigeon and a few others stay behind to help a firefighter with a broken leg and that’s when a freak thunderstorm changes everything. Winds rise and a firestorm sweeps through. Everyone dives for cover in their shelters and when the storm has passed the firefighters check on each other. That’s when the body of firefighter Len Nims is found with a knife in his back. Now, Pigeon has to find out who the murderer is while at the same time taking care of the exhausted and wounded firefighters.
Oh, and even though it’s not crime fiction, if you want to get a real sense of what firefighters go through and what they do and what it’s like to go through a wildfire or bush fire read Adrian Hyland’s Kinglake-350. That’s the story of Black Saturday, 7 February of 2009, when a firestorm swept through the Australian state of Victoria. Even if you don’t think you’ll be interested in that event and those people, read it. It’s that much worth it. Really. Promise.
Sometimes a wildfire or bush fire isn’t the main theme of a novel but even then, fires can add tension to a story and the people who fight them can serve as very well-drawn characters. For example, Lilian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who Smelled a Rat takes place just before the first major snowstorm of the year in Moose County, “400 miles north of nowhere.” Everyone is eager for the snow season because it’s been a very dry summer and autumn and there’ve been several fires. Then there’s a rash of fires at local mineshafts and the already-overworked fire crew has to work even harder to keep the area as safe as possible. Newspaper columnist Jim “Qwill” Qwilleran takes an interest in the local fires not just because of the danger to his community but because they’re of interest as a news topic. Then one of the locals is killed and his place of business destroyed. It’s now clear that an arsonist is at work and Qwill works with Police Chief Andrew Brodie to find out who the murderer is and what’s behind the arson.
In Peter Temple’s Truth, Victoria Inspector Stephen Villani and his team investigate the murder of an unidentified young woman whose body is found in a posh penthouse in the elegant Presilio building. At the same time they’re investigating the murders of three drug dealers whose bodies are found in another part of the Melbourne area. In both cases, some very powerful people do not want Villani and his team to find out the truth about the murders. Woven throughout this novel is the fact that Victoria is under siege from bush fires. Although the fires themselves and those who fight them are not the main focus of this novel’s plot they add a very effective layer of tension. And in a point of interest, Temple refers to the Kinglake fires (see above) in this novel; it provides another perspective on what happened during that terrible time.
Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch lives in the Los Angeles area so as you can imagine, wildfires are part of his life. The Black Ice for instance begins with a terrible wildfire not very far from Bosch’s home:
“The smoke carried up from the Cahuenga Pass and flattened beneath a layer of cool crossing air. From where Harry Bosch watched, the smoke looked like a gray anvil rising up the pass. The late afternoon sun gave the gray a pinkish tint at its highest point, tapering down to deepest black at its root, which was a brushfire moving up the hillside on the east side of the cut… nine houses were already gone on one street and those on the next street were in the path. The fire was moving toward the open hillsides of Griffith Park, where it might make a run for hours before being controlled.”
This novel doesn’t deal specifically with that fire. But that snippet should give you just a hint of what wildfire season is like in the part of Southern California where I live. And it does add a layer of realism and suspense to the novel.
I like my crime fiction to be realistic and honest. I do. And I know that firefighters are human beings like we all are and they have their imperfections and “bad apples” in the group. But I am always especially pleased when fictional firefighters are depicted sympathetically. I owe too many of the real ones too much not to feel that way.
On Another Note…
This post is dedicated to the very brave men and women who work at the station you see in the ‘photo and in all fire stations. I have seen those people after days on the fire line, their bodies exhausted, their faces covered with grime that used to be homes, having seen things that would put me in a mental institution. And yet they still go back. My family and I quite literally owe them our lives. What more can I say?
*NOTE: The title of this post is a line from Billy Joel’s Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway).
One of my favourites among the early Ellery Queen novels is THE SIAMESE TWIN MYSTERY, which is really elevated by putting all the characters in jeopardy when they are trapped inside a remote mountaintop house while a forest fire inexorably moves nearer and nearer – made a great impression on me reading it at my parents’ place in the Summer in Umbria, a largely agricultural area plagued with hundreds of serious fires every darn year – great post Margot, thanks for bringing all of that back.
Sergio – Thanks for the kind words – and for reminding me of The Siamese Twin Mystery, which I haven’t read in far, far too long. I’m very glad you filled in that gap in this post as it really is a good example of what it’s like being around a wildfire. They are frightening.
Lucky to be able to say that so far I have never been too close to one though it makes for distressing viewing on the news every Summer I go out there. The minute you mentioned the Santa Ana my first point of reference was ‘Red Wind’, Chandler’s near perfect hardboiled pastiche ..
Sergio – A wonderful story indeed, Red Wind. And I am glad to hear you’ve never been too close to a wildfire. They are frightening. Really frightening.
Margot you have just remind me of Chandler: “There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands’ necks. Anything can happen.” (Raymond Chandler, Red Wind)
José Ignacio – Thank you for that quote. Chandler described so much better than I could what it’s really like during Santa Ana season. It’s a very uneasy time of year; it really is. And thank you for the reminder of Red Wind, too.
Your tie-ins are always brilliant and so spot on. From reality to fiction then back again. You’ve got no small amount of talent. I salute you and I salute firefighters everywhere who are willing to put it all on the line for us.
Howard – Why, thank you
– that’s awfully kind of you *blush.* And I couldn’t agree more about firefighters. They deserve our unqualified respect, gratitude and admiration in my opinion.
Firefighters do deserve respect and gratitude. I’ve never been at or near a wild fire, but there have been three fires in my building, which firefighters put out before they spread, as well as saving a woman trapped in her apartment. And two summers ago, a fire in the building right next store was so bad that two apartments were destroyed and an elderly woman died. One entire side of the building was vacated for 1 1/2 years and renovated and in January, new tenants arrived.
Several tenants in my building were outside while the firefighters fought that fire and others were inside the building. It was horrendous but they saved the day.
I thank them every time I see firefighters.
On books, Firestorm was good and really gave the feel for that fire.
It’s very brave of you and your family to face this challenge every year. Have you all thought of moving to a safer location, like Saskatchewan?
Kathy – I know how you feel about living so near to where there was a fire. Years ago when we lived on the East Coast, my family and I lived in an apartment community where there was a fire in the building next to ours. The firefighters were there double-quick and nobody was hurt. Yes a few tenants lost their possessions, but still! I am very sorry to hear that there was a death in the building next to yours – so sad.
And agreed about Firestorm; in my opinion it’s a well-written book and yes, it shows what a firestorm is like. As to moving to Saskatchewan? It’s very tempting, especially when fire season starts. All I need is a set of real winter coats, scarves, toques, and the right shoes and boots.
Wow! Honoring the firemen is such a sincere and emotional deal. I don’t think they receive enough gratitude! My daughter lives in Oklahoma, and right now they’re living in a tinderbox area. Just a couple of weeks back, I was concerned abut their safety. I like the Nevada Barr series. My favorites were when she was stationed in Mississippi, so close to home.
Judy – I agree with you; firefighters really deserve our gratitude and support. I’ve been hearing those awful reports about drought and wildfires in Oklahoma and Texas – so horrible! I hope they remain safe.
I think you’re right too about Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series. It’s a fine, fine series and one thing I like about it is that we get to see all sorts of different US locations.
Margot: We would love to have you and kathy d. come to Saskatchewan. If you avoid living in the forests of northern Saskatchewan there is little danger of fire. You are definitely ready for a winter visit. I can tell you have lived where there is truly cold weather.
On firefighters I read Fourth Angel by Suzanne Chazin almost a decade ago. It was striking as the sleuth was NYFD fire marshall, Georgia Skeehan, who was still spending too much of her time dealing with prejudice against women inside the fire department.
Bill – Thanks for the invitation; I’ll take your advice and live somewhere else besides the forests. I’ve heard they’re beautiful though so perhaps I’ll visit them. And yes, I’ve lived through some pretty serious winters, especially when I lived in the Midwest.
Fourth Angel sounds like an interesting book; I should look that one up. And it’s funny you would mention attitudes towards women in the Fire Department. Deborah Crombie’s In a Dark House touches on that topic too. It’s not a major theme of the novel but it’s mentioned.
Great post, Ms. Kinberg! Firefighters are probably the men in uniform whose contribution to securing and preserving human life and property is least noticed or acknowledged the world over, especially in the Third World (or emerging economies as we call them now). Thankfully, much of that has changed since 9/11. There’s a huge lesson in there for the central (federal) and state governments in India…lessons they haven’t learnt yet.
Prashant – Thanks for the kind words
– You make such a well-taken point about the value of firefighters and the lack of notice they get all too often. It’s good to know isn’t it that people are realising now just how important they are. The better supported both financially and with policy (as well as with good will and co-operation of course) the better they can do their jobs. And that is better for all of us.
Greece where I have lived for 4 years has wildfires and they are very frightening. That wall of flames is a sight to be seen. From my house I see the planes that go to the sea, pick up water and come back to the mountains to put out the fire. As you say, firefighters do a great job.
Although not an outside fire, Thomas Enger’s ‘Burned’ shows the psychological and physical damage that fire can cause. I once burned my hand with a very hot cup of Greek coffee. The pain was unbelievable – I can;t imagine what it would be like if it was your whole body.
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Although I don’t believe in that stuff I’m Aries which is a fire sign
Sarah – I had heard there were wildfires in Greece, but didn’t know much about it. You know then exactly what it’s like to be at close quarters with that kind of fire.
And thanks for mentioning Burned. I think it’s easy for people who haven’t been badly burned to forget about (or not really think about) what being burned is really like. I will say I’ve never been severely burned, as in a fire, so like you I can’t imagine what it would be like. But I’ve been scalded and mildly burned more than once. That was enough for me.
Interesting you’re a fire sign. I don’t believe in astrology either but I’m a fire sign too (Sagittarius). In fact here’s an odd little completely meaningless study. Of the twelve graduate students whom I worked most closely with in my cohort, six of us were Sagittarius…
I agree with what you write about firefighters, and about Kinglake-350 which is a superb book. The book I’m currently reading, A Field of Darkness by Cornelia Read, starts with a house being on fire on two successive nights, but I am not sure if this is going to be part of the plot or not as the incident hasn’t been alluded to again, so far. A recent book by C J Box, Back of Beyond (not a Joe Pickett novel) features the aftermath of a forest fire and in particular a cabin that has been burned – either as part of it or in some other way.
Maxine – Isn’t Kinglake-350 a top-quality book? Adrian Hyland is, as an Australian friend put it, “a national b****y treasure.” Folks, do read it. Thanks for mentioning Back of Beyond, which I meant to mention in this post and didn’t. I’m always grateful when you fill in the gaps I leave.
And I’m looking forward to your review of A Field of Darkness. I’ve heard good things about it.
Fire is scary because it can spread so fast. I hope that the fires haven’t harmed too many people there in the US.
Recently I read a book–In Name Only by Carol Kilgore–whose opening scene features a fire, a restaurant burning down. That’s excitement in a book!
Clarissa – Oh, I’ve not gotten the chance to read In Name Only yet. I hope you enjoyed it. And you’re right; one of the most frightening things about fire is that it spreads incredibly quickly and it is so unpredictable. There isn’t really the kind of warning that there is for, say, a hurricane. And it is so destructive.
Firestorm was a book that scared me to death. Barr writes scenes like that so well that I feel like I’m there. My heart goes out to all the people who have lost everything in the wildfires this season, and I can’t imagine the courage it takes for those firefighters to just get out there and keep fighting. That’s my definition of “hero.”
Barbara – It’s my definition too. There aren’t words to describe the admiration I have for firefighters without getting either maudlin or clichéd about it. I know people and know of lots more who’ve lost everything in fires. It’s a terrible experience…
And about Nevada Barr’s writing? I agree she does a really excellent job of transporting the reader. And she does so without wasting words.