Wild Rescues is a fast-paced, firsthand glimpse into the exciting lives of paramedics who work with the National Park Service: a unique brand of park rangers who respond to medical and traumatic emergencies in some of the most isolated and rugged parts of America. In 2014, Kevin Grange left his job as a paramedic in Los Angeles to work in a response area with 2.2 million acres: Yellowstone National Park. Seeking a break from city life and urban EMS, he wanted to experience pure nature, fulfill his dream of working for the National Park Service, and take a crash-course in wilderness medicine. Between calls, Grange reflects upon the democratic ideal of the National Park mission, the beauty of the land, and the many threats facing it. With visitation rising, budgets shrinking, and people loving our parks to death, he realized that--along with the health of his patients--he was also fighting for the life of America's Best Idea.

While many skillful locals have succeeded in finding ways to survive and flourish in this challenging mountain landscape, Theo has done it by being a true steward of the land. I am reminded of this every time I receive jars of his honey, olives, and olive oil, or fresh fruit from his orchard, or a delivery of madrone firewood for heating my home.

When I first heard about Theo's heroic efforts during the Soberanes fire of 2016, I felt simultaneously in awe at the struggles he had to endure, yet unsurprised to find out he was well-prepared. His fire-resistant infrastructure, massive rainwater storage system, years of firefighting experience, and nurturing connections to the land and his neighbors were all in anticipation of such an event.

It's not a question of 'if' the wildfire arrives, it's a question of 'when.' This book demonstrates that the foresight of knowing the inevitability of wildfire is essential for one's survival in the forests of Big Sur and beyond.

- From the Foreword by Lee Klinger

At 3:30 p.m. on August 21, 1937, the Blackwater Fire blew up west of Cody, Wyoming, on the Shoshone National Forest. Fifteen firefighters perish in the conflagration and more than forty are injured. Travel back in time to the horse and mule days of a frontier state and engage a forest fire in the rugged Absaroka Mountains. Gain the upper hand then see it all go so terribly wrong in a matter of seconds.

How do we as individuals and organizations respond to disaster when tragedy strikes? Do we investigate to study and draw conclusions? Do we analyze the situation and file a report to be forgotten? Is that enough? Or do we say, No! There has to be more. There must be a new beginning. The fallen cry out for it.

Soon, young men will parachute from airplanes to hang up in trees and attack forest fires before they become the next tragedy. They will call themselves smokejumpers, and they will be the first to get there, and they will carry the Blackwater with them in the crack of silk as they jump the big sky over our western forests.

A fascinating and darkly funny novel giving readers front-row access to the world of EMS and other first responders -- and the stink, sweat, and sex that accompanies long days caring for others at their most vulnerable.

Following in the footsteps of their beloved Boston cop father, Alex Flynn trains as an EMT, and spends years chasing emergencies in an ambulance. But the person Alex becomes is a far cry from the hero they signed up to be.

Over four decades in public safety, Alex encounters a changing America, where veterans are left to rot on streets, women are welcome in dangerous fields but abusers still walk free, and service providers are subjected to intense public scrutiny while being denied the resources they need. After moving from bustling Boston to small town Vermont, Alex discovers an escalating feud between emergency operators and must decide which to protect: their community, or their legacy.

People are often surprised at the long history of forest fires in Wisconsin. Going all the way back to Peshtigo in 1871, lives have been lost, thousands of homes have burned, and millions of acres have been blackened. And because of that, there have been forest rangers here for a hundred years.

Blair Anderson was one such ranger for over 30 years in the 80s, 90s, and 00s. Here, he sets the story straight on what the life of a forest ranger really is like; working with fire departments, police, district attorneys, and lots and lots of regular folks. Along the way, there is no end to the stories that inevitably come from working with them, many of which he shares here.

On August 24, 2016, the #IAM911 movement was born. I heard your last breath the night you flipped your four-wheeler is the story that launched this movement. What started as a way to bring awareness to the reclassification of 9-1-1 professionals, quickly turned into peer support. Thousands of dispatch stories have been shared. Imagine Listening - Your worst day is our everyday Vol. 2 continues this through the power of storytelling, but what is it really like to answer a call during someone' s nightmare? What is the impact on the first responder answering the call? Ricardo Martinez II, a former 9-1-1 professional, and Founder of the #IAM911 Movement will take you through a roller coaster of emotions as you put on the headset to get a glimpse into the world of emergency dispatch, and, imagine listening.

The true story behind the events that inspired the major motion picture Only the Brave.

A unique and bracing (Booklist) first-person account by the sole survivor of Arizona's disastrous 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, which took the lives of 19 hotshots -- firefighters trained specifically to battle wildfires.

Brendan McDonough was on the verge of becoming a hopeless, inveterate heroin addict when he, for the sake of his young daughter, decided to turn his life around. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a team of elite firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Their leader, Eric Marsh, was in a desperate crunch after four hotshots left the unit, and perhaps seeing a glimmer of promise in the skinny would-be recruit, he took a chance on the unlikely McDonough, and the chance paid off. Despite the crew's skepticism, and thanks in large part to Marsh's firm but loving encouragement, McDonough unlocked a latent drive and dedication, going on to successfully battle a number of blazes and eventually win the confidence of the men he came to call his brothers.

Then, on June 30, 2013, while McDonough -- Donut as he'd been dubbed by his team--served as lookout, they confronted a freak, 3,000-degree inferno in nearby Yarnell, Arizona. The relentless firestorm ultimately trapped his hotshot brothers, tragically killing all 19 of them within minutes. Nationwide, it was the greatest loss of firefighter lives since the 9/11 attacks.

Granite Mountain is a gripping memoir that traces McDonough's story of finding his way out of the dead end of drugs, finding his purpose among the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and the minute-by-minute account of the fateful day he lost the very men who had saved him. A harrowing and redemptive tale of resilience in the face of tragedy, Granite Mountain is also a powerful reminder of the heroism of the people who put themselves in harm's way to protect us every day.

This is the story of Liam FitzGerald, who as a young man in the late-1960's, more or less stumbled into the exciting and often hazardous life of an avalanche worker. His attraction to this line of work led him to Little Cottonwood Canyon, in Utah's Wasatch Mountains, the birthplace of Avalanche Control and Forecasting in North America.

There he landed a job as a Ski Patroller at the soon to open super-resort of Snowbird, a new generation ski area that would soon become synonymous with deep snow and steep terrain, just as the ski industry in the U.S. was really about to take off.

Following a rough start to the resort's inaugural season, Liam was abruptly elevated to the position of Snow Safety Director, the person responsible for the avalanche program at the fledging ski area, after the first few weeks of operation. He found himself in an environment notorious for large and deadly avalanches that threatened not only the skiers flocking to the resort's snow covered slopes, but also to motorists traveling along the canyon highway, guests staying at the hotels and lodges, and local residents who called the canyon home. As he would quickly come to understand, in Little Cottonwood Canyon, avalanches can often be the most important thing in everyone's life.

Ready or not, he was thrown into the fray, and quickly realized he had a lot to learn in a short period of time.

For nearly fifty years Liam negotiated a capricious landscape of snow and avalanches, aware of his considerable responsibility, learning as he went; in an era that not only witnessed explosive growth in the ski industry, but also in the number of people willingly putting themselves at risk with their voracious attraction to deep snow and steep terrain. But it was also an era of tremendous advancement in the field of avalanche research, avalanche forecasting and avalanche control, when the level of knowledge and understanding of snow and avalanches increased exponentially. This was an exciting time to be an avalanche-guy and Little Cottonwood Canyon was arguably one of the best places in the world to follow that pursuit.

This is a story about learning from one's mistakes, about friendship and camaraderie, about exciting times, interspaced with moments of fear, and on occasion- sorrow. But above all, it's a story of a rather regular person who was lucky enough to have a unique job in a very special place.

The unique history of aerial firefighting as seen through the eyes of a pilot, former Navy SEAL, and current owner of one of the most successful aerial firefighting companies in the world.

Blending historical context and first-person narrative, Mudslingers tells the dramatic and colorful story of aerial firefighting in America, as seen through the eyes of a decorated former Navy SEAL, US Naval Academy graduate, firefighting pilot, and businessman who founded Montana-based Bridger Aerospace, one of the most successful aerial firefighting teams in the world. Part narrative nonfiction, part memoir, Mudslingers is a riveting account of one person's journey from the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq to the front lines of a different but no less important battle on the home front--the war against the escalating threat of wildfire.

From the early days of the B-17 to the modern fleets of the twenty-first century, Tim Sheehy will take you on a ride through the history of aerial firefighting--the most hazardous and demanding aviation mission in the world. Mudslingers is a rollicking read, an enlightening journey, and a call to action for anyone who believes wildfires are not only one of the greatest threats facing modern civilization but a threat that has long been underestimated, misunderstood, and poorly addressed, despite repeated examples of bravery and innovation by those who choose to do battle with the flames.

Indeed, save for a few historic military engagements in the twentieth century, there is not a sustained aviation mission anywhere that comes close to encompassing the danger, precision, and unforgiving nature of aerial firefighting.

In telling this story, Sheehy takes readers into the cockpit and into the lives of his fellow pilots--past and present--as they struggle with the seemingly never-ending threat of wildfires. One hundred percent of author proceeds from this book are donated to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation and the United Aerial Firefighters Association.

In the exhilarating spirit of Wild and A Walk in the Park, an adventure-filled memoir of one woman's struggle to succeed as a wildland firefighter on an elite, male-dominated crew as they battle some of the fiercest wildfires in the West.

When Kelly Ramsey drives over a California mountain pass to join an elite firefighting crew, she's terrified that she won't be able to keep up with the intense demands of the job. Not only will she be the only woman on this hotshot crew and their first in ten years, she'll also be among the oldest. As she trains relentlessly to overcome the crew's skepticism and gain their respect, megafires erupt across the West, posing an increasing danger both on the job and back home. In vivid prose that evokes the majesty of Northern California's forests, Kelly takes us on the ground to see how major wildfires are fought and to lay bare the psychological toll, the bone-deep weariness, and the unbreakable camaraderie that emerge in the face of nature's fury.

Despite the wear and tear of her rookie year in fire, Kelly gears up for a second season, determined to prove that not only can a woman survive this work, she can excel. But when her plans to marry her partner start to crumble and sparks fly with a fellow crew member, Kelly wrestles with whether she's truly outgrown the self-destructive patterns she's learned from her father, whose drinking and itinerant ways haunt her. And as the season wears on, she discovers how tenuous belonging can be amid ever-changing crew dynamics.

In this vivid, visceral, and intimate memoir, Kelly wrestles with the immense power of fire for both destruction and renewal, confronted with the questions: Which fires do you fight, and which do you let burn you clean?

Twenty-three years ago, our country was under attack. Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, is a day where firefighters in New York City immediately stopped what they were doing, and willingly headed straight for the World Trade Center to assist in rescuing civilians and others from the two engulfed high-rises. That very day in D.C., The Pentagon was immersed in flames, and our Capitol firefighters rushed in to extinguish the fire. Also, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, firefighters of the small community went in to extinguish the flames, alongside other departments that responded to the scene. All three attacks were done with commercial airplanes. Just a complete horrific day for these three locations, and a sad and scary day for our country. Firefighters across this great land, have one thing in common, we are family.

Salvatore Sal Cassano

FDNY Fire Commissioner 2010 to 2014

Executive Board Member of Tunnel to Towers Foundation

Firefighters are a breed of one--sure, the uniqueness of the individual shines through, but the bond from one firefighter to another is the very linchpin that keeps the unity and the essence of a firefighter thriving. Twenty-three years ago, September 11, 2001, proved that firefighters, far and wide, across the United States willingly putting their team, community, city, state, and country first.... themselves, second. That message was solidified on that tragic day, that being a firefighter is all about others, and all about what they can do to help. Immediately, upon hearing of the first impact to the towers, firefighters across the USA stopped what they were doing, acted, and said we are going to help-our brothers and sisters need us. No second guessing-instantaneously, in unison, as a team, as a unit, as they had trained and responded before 9/11, they knew what they were going to do, and they did it.

9:11 A Time To Always Remember: Bond of Firefighters is a stamped time, which is visible two times a day, every day, 365 days a year- 9:11 a.m. and 9:11 p.m. Everyone remembers what they were doing on September 11^th. Firefighters across this amazing country knew what they were doing. Bond of Firefighters shares individual and very personal stories from firefighters across the nation as they remember that fateful day. From a Battalion Chief to a college student who became a firefighter due to 9/11, from the roughneck to the volunteer, they all share their story in this book. It's a story of a common bond among individuals who thrive on teamwork. Every firefighter in this book remembers their whereabouts that day, just like we do. They remember who they were with, just like we do. They remember what steps they took, when they got word of the events unfolding in D.C., Shanksville and New York, just like we do. September 11^th, the community spirit was thriving in the United States, we were a united nation of people who wanted to step up and help. 9:11 A Time To Always Remember: Bond of Firefighters shows us that message loud and clear. We must never forget; we must always remember...

A dramatic, revelatory account of the female inmate firefighters who battle California wildfires.

Shawna was overcome by the claustrophobia, the heat, the smoke, the fire, all just down the canyon and up the ravine. She was feeling the adrenaline, but also the terror of doing something for the first time. She knew how to run with a backpack; they had trained her physically. But that's not training for flames. That's not live fire.

California's fire season gets hotter, longer, and more extreme every year -- fire season is now year-round. Of the thousands of firefighters who battle California's blazes every year, roughly 30 percent of the on-the-ground wildland crews are inmates earning a dollar an hour. Approximately 200 of those firefighters are women serving on all-female crews.

In Breathing Fire, Jaime Lowe expands on her revelatory work for The New York Times Magazine. She has spent years getting to know dozens of women who have participated in the fire camp program and spoken to captains, family and friends, correctional officers, and camp commanders. The result is a rare, illuminating look at how the fire camps actually operate -- a story that encompasses California's underlying catastrophes of climate change, economic disparity, and historical injustice, but also draws on deeply personal histories, relationships, desires, frustrations, and the emotional and physical intensity of firefighting.

Lowe's reporting is a groundbreaking investigation of the prison system, and an intimate portrayal of the women of California's Correctional Camps who put their lives on the line, while imprisoned, to save a state in peril.

The true story behind the events that inspired the major motion picture Only the Brave.

A unique and bracing (Booklist) first-person account by the sole survivor of Arizona's disastrous 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, which took the lives of 19 hotshots -- firefighters trained specifically to battle wildfires.

Brendan McDonough was on the verge of becoming a hopeless, inveterate heroin addict when he, for the sake of his young daughter, decided to turn his life around. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a team of elite firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Their leader, Eric Marsh, was in a desperate crunch after four hotshots left the unit, and perhaps seeing a glimmer of promise in the skinny would-be recruit, he took a chance on the unlikely McDonough, and the chance paid off. Despite the crew's skepticism, and thanks in large part to Marsh's firm but loving encouragement, McDonough unlocked a latent drive and dedication, going on to successfully battle a number of blazes and eventually win the confidence of the men he came to call his brothers.

Then, on June 30, 2013, while McDonough -- Donut as he'd been dubbed by his team--served as lookout, they confronted a freak, 3,000-degree inferno in nearby Yarnell, Arizona. The relentless firestorm ultimately trapped his hotshot brothers, tragically killing all 19 of them within minutes. Nationwide, it was the greatest loss of firefighter lives since the 9/11 attacks.

Granite Mountain is a gripping memoir that traces McDonough's story of finding his way out of the dead end of drugs, finding his purpose among the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and the minute-by-minute account of the fateful day he lost the very men who had saved him. A harrowing and redemptive tale of resilience in the face of tragedy, Granite Mountain is also a powerful reminder of the heroism of the people who put themselves in harm's way to protect us every day.

A decorated firefighter's memoir about his defiance of a controversial order that ignited a worldwide parenting and leadership movement, The Raising Alphas Project.

For my decision to defend my firefighters, I was thrown into a fiery furnace. I survived because the Fire inside me burned brighter than the fires around me.

In 2021, Chief Officer Stephen Davis of Orange County Fire Rescue of Central Florida refused to reprimand his personnel over a Covid-19 vaccine mandate. The men and women he was responsible for had religious and medical exemptions - Stephen was told to write them up. He didn't. For his courageous defense of our civil liberties, Stephen, a dedicated husband and father of two was promptly terminated just before Christmas.

This is a powerful memoir of courage in the face of scandal and leadership through the fire. From his early days serving in the United States Army as a medic, to battling raging house fires, to a sudden entrance into fame, meeting such influential public figures as Senator Ted Cruz, Governor Ron DeSantis, and former NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch, join Stephen on his remarkable journey from Fire Chief Officer to CEO.

Choice Publications is proud to present this book for anyone who wants to become a greater leader; anyone who wants to raise their children to be strong and courageous, prepared to fight the fires of life. If you care about speaking up for what's right, then you need to read this book today!

On August 24, 2016, the #IAM911 movement was born. I heard your last breath the night you flipped your four-wheeler is the story that launched this movement. What started as a way to bring awareness to the reclassification of 9-1-1 professionals, quickly turned into peer support. Thousands of dispatch stories have been shared. Imagine Listening - Your worst day is our everyday Vol. 2 continues this through the power of storytelling, but what is it really like to answer a call during someone' s nightmare? What is the impact on the first responder answering the call? Ricardo Martinez II, a former 9-1-1 professional, and Founder of the #IAM911 Movement will take you through a roller coaster of emotions as you put on the headset to get a glimpse into the world of emergency dispatch, and, imagine listening.

The true story--told with heart-pounding action and heart-melting romance--of a heroic firefighter forced to confront an emergency even he can't handle: saving himself.

Jason Sautel had it all. Confident in his abilities, trusted by his firefighting brothers, and nationally recognized for his heroism, he was making a name for himself on the mean streets of Oakland, California. There was no emergency he couldn't handle, and his adrenaline-fueled job helped him forget the suicidal thoughts of his dark childhood . . . until the day he looked into the eyes of a jumper on the Bay Bridge and came face to face with an evil he recognized in his own heart.

In the following months, a series of traumatic emergency calls--some successful, others haunting failures--drove Jason into a deep depression. Even as he threw himself into his work as the model firefighter, he sank deeper and deeper, realizing he could never rescue everyone . . . or even save himself. Just as he was ready to take his own life, Jason began to see hints of hope: the relentless power of love. Packed with dramatic action and romance, vulnerability and inspiration, The Rescuer is a compelling story of courage, faith, redemption, and the one Person who really can rescue us from the darkness.

Journey of a Hero: From Innocent Childhood to Courageous Firefighter, Guided by Divine Intervention and Shaped by Influential Encounters.

Dive into the captivating life story of a man, Gary Lee, who, inspired by his humble beginnings, ascends to the heroic role of a firefighter and first responder. This book, Son of a Carpenter, is a testament to the power of faith, resilience, and human connection. It is a narrative that seamlessly weaves together the threads of childhood memories, divine guidance, and impactful encounters.

Lee's journey begins in the simplicity of childhood, where the seeds of his future are unknowingly sown. He learns the value of hard work and integrity from his father, a carpenter, whose influence becomes the cornerstone of his character. As he grows, so does his understanding of life's complexities and the role he is destined to play.

The divine intervention in his life is a recurring theme, guiding him through trials and tribulations. It is a testament to his unwavering faith and belief in a higher power. His trust in God's plan becomes his compass, leading him to a fulfilling career as a firefighter and first responder.

Along his path, he encounters a diverse array of individuals, each leaving an indelible mark on his life. These encounters, both good and bad, shape his perspective and fortify his resolve. They serve as reminders of the inherent goodness in people and the lessons to be learned from adversity.

Son of a Carpenter is more than just a biography. It is a heartfelt exploration of life's journey, a celebration of the human spirit, and a tribute to the brave men and women who risk their lives for the safety of others.

What can you learn from a hotshot supe?

You might be surprised.

Clearly, it takes toughness, strength, and will to lead a hotshot crew. Did you know it also takes empathy, humor, and intellect? All that and more goes into building a motivated, efficient team that survives the grueling fire season and sticks together like a family. The hotshot superintendents in this book don't just know this, they've lived it, and they're passing their knowledge on to you. This best-practices guide and oral history is written for wildland firefighters and anyone else looking for insights into living and working as a hotshot.

These successful leaders share:

- Advice for starting and building a career in wildland fire

- Best practices for hiring, training, and leading

- Tips for balancing a demanding, dangerous job with home and family life

- Honest discussions about handling the heavy stuff: mistakes, burnout, heartbreak, death

- Memories of the past and ideas for the future

- Hilarious stories about their fellow supes

There are easier careers with higher pay or greater glory, but hotshot supes still say they have the best job in wildland fire. Look inside to find out why.

THE SUPES:

Richard Aguilar ∙ J. W. Allendorf ∙ Dennis Baldridge ∙ Bob Bennett ∙ Ron Bollier ∙ Charlie Caldwell ∙ Barry Callenberger ∙ Ben Charley ∙ Jim Cook ∙ Steve Dickenson ∙ Anthony Escobar ∙ Dan Fiorito ∙ Paul Gleason ∙ Lance Honda ∙ Ken Jordan ∙ Steve Karkanen ∙ Greg Keller ∙ Kurt LaRue ∙ Craig Lechleiter ∙ Shawna Legarza ∙ Mark Linane ∙ Ted Mathiesen ∙ Dave Matier ∙ Paul Musser ∙ Greg Overacker ∙ Ron Regan ∙ Brit Rosso ∙ Bill Sandborg ∙ Fred Schoeffler ∙ Stan Stewart ∙ Art Torrez ∙ Greg Vergari ∙ Rusty Witwer ∙ Craig Workman ∙ Bob Wright

Beyond an adrenaline ride or a chronicle of bravura heroics, this unflinching view of a Minneapolis firefighter reveals the significant toll of emergency response

In this remarkable memoir, Jeremy Norton marshals twenty-two years of professional experience to offer, with compassion and critique, an extraordinary portrayal of emergency responders. Trauma Sponges captures in arresting detail the personal and social toll the job exacts, as well as the unique perspective afforded by sustained direct encounters with the sick, the dying, and the dead.

From his first days as a rookie firefighter and emergency medical technician to his command of a company as a twenty-year veteran, Norton documents the life of an emergency responder in Minneapolis: the harrowing, heartbreaking calls, from helping the sick and hurt, to reassuring the scared and nervous, to attempting desperate measures and providing final words. In the midst of the uncertainty, fear, and loss caused by the Covid pandemic, Norton and his crew responded to the scene of George Floyd's murder. The social unrest and racial injustice Norton had observed for years exploded on the streets of Minneapolis, and he and his fellow firefighters faced the fires, the injured, and the anguish in the days and months that followed.

Norton brings brutally honest insight and grave social conscience to his account, presenting a rare insider's perspective on the insidious role of sexism and machismo in his profession, as well as an intimate observer's view of individuals trapped in dire circumstances and a society ill equipped to confront trauma and death. His thought-provoking, behind-the-scenes depiction of the work of first response and last resort starkly reveals the realities of humanity at its finest and its worst.