This book is an account of the Camp Fire from multiple perspectives. The Camp Fire was the most destructive fire in California history and began on Nov. 8, 2018. The fire wiped out the town of Paradise, and others. It moved so fast that people could not outrun it. The toll of this fire was devastating.

In this book, the authors interview many people who were there. Their stories are told here, many of them interconnected. The firefighters, residents, business owners, hospital workers, and more. Their stories are tragic, sometimes horrific, sometimes uplifting. All share an intensity and a message that we Californians need to hear.

Many of us in California live in wildland-urban interface zones that are prone to fire. With the climate changing, our wildlands are more vulnerable to fire, even into historically damp months like November. The fact that this fire could start in November and burn as fast as it did should be something that all of us in the Golden State pay heed to. It could happen anywhere.

Paradise, Concow, Magalia, and more were destroyed in this fire. It caused billions in damage and losses, but the worst part was the loss of life. Over 80 people died in this fire. Knowing these facts can make this a difficult read at times.

As a reader, I found myself tearing up at points in the book. I just could not help it. When you realize that the people whose stories you are reading are no longer here, that they died heroically trying to help others, it just hits you emotionally. This is definitely a book that will take you to places and feelings that can cause much sorrow. Yet it also offers hope. The towns will rebuild. The people are resilient. There will be recovery. It will never be the same though.

What I liked about the book:

The pace was appropriate. The story was told from all perspectives and all tied together into a coherent overall picture of events. The different perspectives showed the fire from all points of view and gave a good clear image to the reader of how chaotic and intense it really was.

What I didn’t like:

I didn’t like as much the emotions that were brought up. It can be a very difficult read because these are real events and real people. I live not far from there and these events could happen in my area too. So, that makes it tough to read at times. This is not the fault of the book or the author. This is just a difficult and emotional subject that hits close to home for many Californians, especially those who have lived through our many fires. I think it’s good to have forewarning before you pick up this book that you may find yourself sobbing at times because this is not fiction.

Overall, I think this book is one to read if you need to get an insider perspective on California fires. It is not light reading. The story flows really well and you will learn a lot from it. Be prepared with a box of tissues though.

The full story of the notorious and horrific Camp Fire that ravaged Paradise, California, in 2018. The authors covered the fires for daily newspapers as flames raged through the town, and now they expand upon their reporting to present the full history and the stories behind the tragedy. Along the way, they provide a potent example and warning of things to come in an increasingly warm, dry, overly developed world.

This was an incredible read about the 2018 California wildfires specifically in the town of Paradise. The book presents a variety of people's perspectives when the fires hit & shows how quickly people had to move to evacuate. It also touches on the utter failure of PG&E, the problems they cause, and the corporate irresponsibility of the company. This was a very fast-paced, intense read & is great if you want to learn more about the California wildfires, the impacts of the damage, and the destruction it caused from the people who lived through it.