No, not Sanders.
Back in 1910, the still newly-born Forest Service was literally thrown into the fire as it faced the greatest forest fire known to that time(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fire_of_1910). Heroism and cowardice, brilliance and foolishness, everything worthy of Shakespeare or Hemingway, were all on public display as the fire wiped more than half a dozen towns from the face of the earth, and left many more in ruins.
Timothy Egan's book in on my bookshelf - having been read twice - and PBS is replaying their excellent docu-history of the event in next week's American Experience episode (Tuesday in most regions, check your listings).
I highly recommend the book and the show to anyone who has spent time in and gained an appreciation of national and state parks, forests and public lands. It will give you an incredible perspective on the long and conflicted relationship of those who manage public lands with the necessary evil of wildfire, and present a slice of history few of us know. As riders, we all enjoy these lands - this show and book will help us appreciate what has been given to provide them to us.
