Book Review - Under a Flaming Sky:The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894 by Daniel James Brown

Date: October 24, 2007
Author: Daniel James Brown
Title: Under a Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894
Rating: 5/10

How I got a hold of this book: I bought it from Politics and Prose. It was on a display table, and looked interesting.
Where I read this book: Metro, home
This book made me feel: Psychically in tune with contemporary events. Currently wildfires are raging in California.
Why I like it: Gripping, informative.
Why I don't like it: At times information was just plopped in the book. For instance, all of a sudden there is an analysis on burn infection. It is relevant information, don't get me wrong, as in the following pages I'm reading about burn victims. However, where it's positioned, and how it's presented, it seems like filler.
The plot in five words: Fire/escape/destitution/pine/deforestation

This book made me think of: California. It's in the news. People have had to evacuate. Also, FEMA staged a press conference, and they were caught. So, respect for FEMA hasn't been earned as far as presentation to the general public since Katrina.
Memorable character: John Blair, a porter on a train, and the only African-American throughout most of the book. He was presented as calm and strong throughout the ordeal, and was recognized by the African-American community in St. Paul as a hero, but not really from the Hinkley community.
Memorable quote: Research suggests that people who act heroically in disaster often carry a special burnden later - foisted upon them by an admiring public that holds them to a higher standard.
Person I met while reading the book: Staff at Politics and Prose who rang the book up.

Something memorable that happend in my life during the time it took to read the book: Wildfires of California. People evacuated. Two of the fires started by arson, but they probably spread due to poor forestry practices.
If I could recommend this book to one person, it would be: Someone on an airplane. It's a quick read, and is interesting. Will make the trip quick.
How has this book changed my life: I'll read news about forest fires critically. My first reaction, will be that poor forestry practices resulted in the spread.
Will I read it again: Not likely.

Notes: Questions posted on the author's website, and in the book focus on the parallels between the handling of the Hinckley Firestorm, and Katrina. Unfortunately, although the events are over 100 years apart, there are similarities. The initial fault of the disaster: pine deforestation vs broken levee are really result of poor management. Also, as with Katrina government assistance was slow in coming. Many of the Hinckley population were first/2nd generation immigrants, and were not on the radar of the government. The over 20 Native Americans who died, the trappers, and others who lived in the forest and died, weren't even counted in the death total. Similarly with Katrina disenfranchised residents received assistance, and inadequate at that, after much delay.

Simiarly, the FEMA response to the California wildfires is just icing of the cake of botched government assistance.

The economic relaties of the times were reflected in the reaction to the firestorm. Everything was get rich quick, exploit the workers. In this case, it caught up with the workers. They were the ones that died mostly. The person that owned the lumber mill, obviously, lost the lumber mill. What was noted in the book, and was relevant, was that strikes had been ocurring on railroads before this incident. The author speculated that one of the reasons the railroad staff refused to get off the trains, was that they wanted to keep their jobs. Or, if they abandoned their trains, then they wouldn't get them back. Considering the economic realities of the time, I can see how this mindset could be a part of the decision process of the railroad staff. They probably also wanted to just help people. They waited for people to get on even though the fire was already on the train. The fire was so incredibly quick, and wiped out so much, killed so many people, it's amazing that people were able to help each other out. However, that's what they did.

Question from me: Questions are posted on Daniel James Brown's site, and I suggest you read them. My own question would be What will change due to the California Wildfires that should have changed after Hinckley?