Mann Gulch: The Wrath of Nature
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- 2000. August 5th, 1949. It's a broiling hot day across Montana. The thermometer in Helena reads 97 degrees. But it's even hotter in Mann Gulch - a funnel-shaped canyon that adjoins the Missouri River 20 miles north of Helena. In the afternoon, a fire is reported on the south ridge of Mann Gulch and 16 smokejumpers take off from Missoula and fly 120 miles east to the jump site. One smokejumper becomes ill on the bumpy flight and remains on the plane. The remaining 15 jumpers hook onto the jump line and hurl themselves into the wrath of nature. That day, 13 young men would lose a desperate race with an unpredictable fire. This program describes the events of that fateful day over 50 years ago.
I was a rookie SJ in 1949. I sat in the training room with the 13 who died in the MannGulch fire - along with others - and ask "What about back fires?" The answer was: "They only use them on large fires." Three weeks later my two close friends and 11 others died. Unfortunately Wag Dodge had not been there for our itraining. Others from 1949 have let me know they remember my question. Lessons: Learn as much as you can before taking risk, anticipate and minimize your risk.
wow.
This was one of the fires we studied as a Hotshot. Lots of respect for you. Sorry for the lost of your friends.
George, I would love to talk sometime. My grandfather was Walter Rumsey. Might there be a way to contact you?
George Harpole I wish I could talk to you and here some stories from back then... I bet you have seen it all.
You should write a book.
A very informative video. Thank you for uploading this video.
I first went through Missoula in 1998, there was a wildfire burning north of town I spent the night there and could smell the fire. I passed through again in I think 2012 and there was a wildfire burning that was even larger. I only learned about this tragedy today. My mother's first cousin was an employee of the Forest Service here in Missouri who often volunteered to fight fires in the west. He had some photographs taken at night at the camps where men ate and slept, they were taken at night and it was bright enough no flash was needed. This is an amazing story that lets people know about these men and their sacrifice. I will tell my friends to come and view it by sharing it on Facebook.
Firefighters stand alongside soldiers
The records of the Mann Gulch Fire are stored at the "Fire Labe" in Missoula, which was founded in part because of the Mann Gulch Fire. The first Director of Fire Research, Harry Gisborne, was so concerned about Mann Gulch that he went there himself a few months after the fire, to see the area first hand. He died of a heart attack while hiking in Mann Gulch, the 14th victim of the fire, just a few months after the fire itself. Norman Maclean did his research for "Young Men and Fire" at the Northern Forest Fire Laboratory (as it was then called) for about four months, meticulously going through the records collection, and calling on the expertise of the fire researchers there at the time. Since, he had spread his documents all over the conference room table where I generally ate my lunch, I spent am hour or so every day following the progress of his work. Immediately above us was a portrait of Harry Gisborne, the founder of USFS Fire Research.
Kim:
Interesting story! Ironically Norman's son, John N. Maclean, in 1999 wrote the book "Fire On The Mountain" about the South Canyon Fire on July 6, 1994. Fourteen men & women (9 Prineville Hot Shots; 3 Smoke Jumpers; and 2 Helitacks) died.
Fernanda Santos book from 2016 "The Fire Line" discusses the circumstances around the death of 19 of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots in the Yarnell, Arizona fire on June 30, 2013.
And the movie "Only The Brave" from 2017 gives a generally accurate account of the events of that day as well.
These men & women are incredibly brave to put themselves in harms way. I imagine you truly learn the value of trust and family.
Michael
Firefighters are heroes lest we forget.
Hello GOOD VIDEO
If interested, do a search forJames Keelaghan's "Cold Missouri Waters", a 1996 folk song that tells the story of the Mann Gulch fire from the perspective of Wag Dodge, the leader who lit the escape fire.
I also recommend Norman Maclean's book "Young Men and Fire" which, as I understand it, inspired Keelaghan to write the song.
I like the Richard Schindell version better: ua-cam.com/video/KgQNeGPJdcQ/v-deo.html
This song by James Kelaghan: Cold Missouri Waters is a poignant recounting of the Mann Gulch story. ua-cam.com/video/Dztj4X3fQps/v-deo.html