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Loading... Under a Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894 (2006)by Daniel James Brown
It was amazing to me that these events really happened. This fire terrorized so many people, and their stories are amazing. It was written so well, and will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. (  ) wholewatermelon | Jan 4, 2011 |  The author's great-grandfather died in the horrendous fire which devastated Pine County, Minnesota on Sep 1, 1894. The book tells the story of the ordeal very well, and even though it is gruesome to read about the fire and the things that the persons caught in it went through I thought the book well done and well worth reading. In the Epilogue the author tells of his 2004 visit to Hinckley--and this brought the book to an inspiring end. Over 436 people died in the fire--and in that day the effort to get help to them and the survivors was so crude compared to the present time that one feels really frustrated as one reads the book. (  )2  Schmerguls | Jun 19, 2009 | I found this book to be a really good read. Even though he's recounting history it doesn't drag in any way. There is plenty of dialog which leaves me wondering how much is accurate, but it does help keep it interesting. To help the reader get a sense of the intensity and scope of the fire the author spends a page or two at various points explaining what was taking place scientifically. These passages are not too hard to grasp for the layman and help the reader understand better. In all, I recommend this book to anyone that finds the description appealing. I definitely found it to be well-written and entertaining. ( ) stezton | Feb 5, 2009 | recalls Currie participation during the fire ceddle | Feb 14, 2008 | There are several accounts of this tragedy available but this is the most readable I've come across. The author's personal connection to the disaster (his grandfather survived it) allows him to bring the story home to the modern reader. I liked how he brought current-day Hinckley into the story. There is a good index. Don't miss the P. S. section at the end of the paperback version; it's easy to overlook. ( )1 jtlauderdale | Dec 17, 2007 | no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 006123625X, Paperback)On September 1, 1894, two forest fires converged on the town of Hinckley, Minnesota, trapping more than two thousand people. The fire created its own weather, including hurricane-strength winds, bubbles of plasma-like glowing gas, and 200-foot-tall flames. As temperatures reached 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, the firestorm knocked down buildings and carried flaming debris high into the sky. Two trains—one with every single car on fire—became the only means of escape. In all, more than four hundred people would die, leading to a revolution in forestry management and the birth of federal agencies that monitor and fight wildfires. A spellbinding account of danger, devastation, and courage, Under a Flaming Sky reveals the dramatic, minute-by-minute story of the tragedy and brings into focus the ordinary citizens whose lives it irrevocably marked. (retrieved from Amazon Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:53:50 -0400) Describes the devastating events of September 1894, when two forest fires converged on the town of Hinckley, Minnesota, and surrounding communities, trapping more than two thousand people and ultimately costing more than four hundred lives. |
LibraryThing AuthorDaniel James Brown is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.
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