Tending Fire
Subtitle
Coping with America's Wildland Fires
"Tending Fire" is a brilliant discussion of the politics of fire by one of the country’s most knowledgeable writers on the subject, Stephen J. Pyne. Once a fire fighter himself (for 15 seasons, on the north rim of the Grand Canyon), Pyne gives us for the first time a book-length discussion of fire policy, how we have come to this pass and where we might go from here.
Bio
Stephen J. Pyne is a Regents' Professor for ASU's School of Life Sciences. He has written over 30 books, mostly on the history and management of wildland and rural fire, including big-screen surveys for the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe and the world generally, and is completing a multi-volume fire history of the U.S. and its regions since 1960.
Praise for this book
In 'Tending Fire,' Stephen Pyne provides a broader context for modern debates over wildfire in America, examining the history of ideas about fire from ancient times, but focusing primarily on the 19th and 20th centuries. In this probing synthesis, Pyne explores not only the past but the present and future of fire politics, offering options for dealing with fire while recognizing its ecological importance.
Forest History Today
Stephen Pyne has done more than any single person to shape our understanding of the history and ecology of fire. This volume is a powerful synthesis and application of that understanding for the development of sound policies for the management of fire on rapidly changing landscapes.
Norman Christensen, professor of ecology, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University
