The fire with the greatest toll of smokejumper deaths was the mann gulch fire in 1949, which occurred north of helena, montana, at the gates of the mountains area along the missouri river. The fire started near the top of a ridge between mann gulch and meriwether canyon. Every fire season, when a crew runs from fire, deploys its shelters, or when theres an accident like the one on storm king mountain in 1994, the story of the mann gulch fire gets rechurned. This devastating wildfire would eventually claim the lives of 12 u. A mixture of heat, wind patterns, and atmospheric conditions caused a blowup and the resulting fireball chased the men in a race they couldnt win. In a busy fire season such as 1949, when a jumper returned he might find himself right back to the top of the list. Firefighters and smoke jumpers those who parachute into a wildfire tried to put it out, but the land was too dry and the gulch was too windy. It is funnel shaped, narrowing to a width of onefourth mi at the river. Many who read the book feel the pull of mann gulch i certainly did.
Thirteen firefighters died during the blowup, 12 of them smokejumpers. Later that day he drove near gates of the mountain near helena, where the song started coming to come. Jun 01, 2014 the site, known as mann gulch, became infamous in the history of the forest service after the fire, which had been ignited by lightning, suddenly expanded, fanned by high winds. Mann gulch and the greatest fire story ever told new york. The mann gulch memorial, installed in 1999, located at the mouth of meriwether canyon. A smoke jumper, he was the last survivor of the mann gulch fire, one of the worst disasters in the history of the us forest service.
Norman macleans beautiful book, young men and fire chicago university press, 1992 is almost certainly the most comprehensive account of the mann gulch fire. An analysis of dodges escape fire on the 1949 m ann gulch fire in. Mann gulch wildfire, 1949 by mariah jones introduction a fire erupted in mann gulch on helena national forest in montana. Thus, at about the time of the mann gulch fire blowup, and the resulting entrapment of the smokejumpers, the weather pattern at the fire site was dominated by. Using the story of a firefighter who improvised a response to a fire by setting a back fire while the rest of his crew panicked and ultimately perished, weick examines the disintegration of role structure and sensemaking within an. He stopped in at the smokejumper base museum and picked up a booklet on the mann gulch fire. Young men and fire won the national book critics circle award for nonfiction in 1992. Additionally, dodges lack of interaction with his new crew members did not earn him the trust he needed to be an effective leader. The mann gulch fire, which overran 16 firefighters in 1949, is analyzed to show. Since maclean wrote about it, the mann gulch fire has become a pet anecdote not only in the fire community but also among safety experts, at business schools, and in those corners of the selfhelp. On the mann gulch fire 15 smokejumpers and a fire guard were led by their leader, wag dodge, down a steep slope toward the missouri river in an attempt to get below a fire. Temperatures that day reached 97 degrees in helena. A mann gulch remembrance tour wayne phillips at the spot where fire survivor robert sallee says he went through a crevice to the ridgeline and saved his life.
Lessons learned from the mann gulch tragedy history. When the mann gulch fire was first spotted from the plane, norman maclean wrote in young men and fire, his bestselling 1992 book about the disaster, the pilot, the crew foreman. The fire is the subject of norman maclean s book young men and fire. On the front lines battling wildfires, and it also includes a section on the mann gulch fire. The fire started near the top of a ridge between mann gulch and meriwether canyon in the gates of the mountain wilderness. The fire is the subject of norman macleans book young men and fire. Although ignited by a lightning strike on the south side of the gulch on aug. Maclean provides such an account in his book, young. This day in wildland fire history is dedicated to all those at mann gulch august 5 th, 1949.
No weather was recorded at the fire, but steady sw winds were observed at the time of the jump. The elder maclean, once a firefighter himself, wrote that book as a warning, mann gulch must never happen again. There are fire scars on standing trees and, here and there, fallen trunks burned to chalky black, but most of these are deceptive. The book, a collection of stories and essays, chronicles the 1953 rattlesnake fire on the mendocino national forest in northern california, the 1999. May 31, 2014 robert sallee, the last living survivor of the 1949 mann gulch fire near helena, mont. Sixteen young flamejumpers were dropped on what was supposed to be a routine jo i actually read this book about 15 years ago, but its stayed with me powerfully enough to earn its 5 stars retroactively. Searing the fire into the nations consciousness, norman maclean chronicled the mann gulch tragedy in his awardwinning book young men and fire. In 1949, firefighters died at the mann gulch fire in montana. Two jumpers have since died while jumping, caught and hanged in the coils of their own jumping ropes.
This day in wildland fire history is dedicated to all those at mann gulch august 5th, 1949. Retired smokejumper john driscoll points to the location where the 12 smokejumpers died on aug. It was the first time in the 70year history of the smokejumpers and the first time in 52,000 fires in the. A number of factors contributed to the tragic loss of life that day, as documented in norman macleans book young men and fire and other sources. The highest flanking ridge, where the fire started, is on the south side of the drainage between mann gulch and. Of the sixteen men who jumped into mann gulch on august 5, 1949, only three cheated death.
This documentary focuses upon the life of silas raymond thompson, jr. Norman maclean author of a river runs through it wrote about the tragedy in his book young men and fire. The lessons learned in mann gulch led to new, scientificallybased methods. Survivors return to mann gulch after tragic day history.
Information is provided with the intent to share knowledge to improve safety, performance, efficiency and organizational learning throughout the entire wildland fire community. The lessons learned from the mann gulch fire had a significant impact on firefighter training and emphasized the importance of fire research and studying fire science behavior. It is uncertain who first discovered the mann gulch fire. Facts fifteen men land on the ground to fight a dangerous fire. The actual top of mann gulch is the former bottom of the ocean, pushed upward over the course of millions of years. Mann gulch fire, historic photos author bill gabbert posted on may 30, 2014 august 25, 2019 categories uncategorized tags mann gulch, montana. The mann gulch fire was a wildfire reported on august 5, 1949, in a gulch located along the. Still, the silence of the victims families robbed maclean s account of an essential personal dimension. It was the first major tragedy for the smokejumpers, and the incident is ingrained into the forest service and wildland firefighters alike.
On the front lines battling wildfires, and it also includes a section on the. Usfs 1949 mann gulch fire the wrath of nature 2000. Revisiting the mann gulch fire 70 years after the tragedy. May 16, 2017 one of the most interesting things about the hike to the false summit is the unique view it provides of mann gulch, the site of a 1949 wildfire that killed smokejumpers. One of the key components of that days outcome was a breakdown in the leadership of crew boss r. U p on top of the north rim of mann gulch, dave and i are observing, not intentionally, a moment of silence. The location of the mann gulch fire was included as a historical district on the united states national register of historic places on may 19. The mann gulch fire was first officially reported around noon on august 5, 1949, in montanas helena national forest. Sixteen men ventured into hell to fight a raging wildfire. The men parachuted into the upper northeastern part of the gulch around 4 pm on august 5, 1949 and prepared to fight a fire located on the ridge near the opposite end of the gulch. The crew chief, wagner dodge, was a veteran smokejumper, but wasnt well known by his crew.
Maclean called this place an amphitheater, and from here you can see the whole stage. The mann gulch fire had serious consequences for the forest service and its research branch. Norman macleans son john wrote a book in 2003 titled fire and ashes. Mann gulch to investigate the fire during the fall of 1949, harry gisborne, the pioneer fire scientist in the northern rockies, suffered a heart attack and died. But the fact that the smokejumpers have suffered no fatality from fire since mann gulch suggests they learned some things from it.
Mann gulch is the site of the august 5, 1949 mann gulch fire in which firefighters died. The mann gulch fire and how far down the chain do you need. On august 5, 1949 the tragic mann gulch fire was first spotted. Black irish band underneath montana skies mann gulch. Mt wildfire in 49 haunted smokejumpers until they died. May 29robert sallee, the last survivor of the 1949 mann gulch fire, which killed smokejumpers in one of the u. The forest service inquiry held after the fire, judged by many to be inadequate, concluded that. Mann gulch remembered, 50th anniversary, august 5, 1999. The mann gulch fire was the subject of norman macleans book young men and fire, which was published after his death. For information on purchasing the book from bookstores or here onlineplease go to the webpage for young men and fire. The barren slope on the right is where the mann gulch fire ended the lives of the men. The deadly fire has been the subject of official inquiry. The article appeared in the autumn 2004 issue of montana, the magazine of western history.
Jack barrows, who succeeded gisborne, was directed to expedite research on fire. Hence the effectiveness of this new firefighting technique was countered by a lack of knowledge. Cooleys book trimotor and trail, published in 1984, included the most detailed study of the mann gulch fire and its aftermath until norman macleans young men and fire was. You can find some of those materials through links on our dedicated mann gulch history page. The mann gulch fire was momentous from the day it happened. The mann gulch fire was a wildfire reported on august 5, 1949 in a gulch located along the upper missouri. Mann gulch wildfire, 1949 mann gulch wildfire 1949 by. While in mann gulch to investigate the fire during the fall of 1949, harry gisborne, the pioneer fire scientist in the northern rockies, suffered a heart attack and died. Mann gulch fire entrapment fatalities 1949 wildland fire. The fire was in the gates of the mountains wild area now the gates of the mountains wilderness just east of the missouri river, 20 miles north of helena, mt.
Slower to erode than the rock around it, it now forms a fortress, 12 to 20 feet. This photo was taken from the head of mann gulch, looking toward the southwest. Jan 09, 20 in august of 1949, a fire broke out in mann gulch near helena, montana. Thom bridge, independent record a informational signs tells. Maclean normans son wrote an article called fire and ashes, the last survivor of the mann gulch fire. He reported no new fires, and landed in helena at 12. To see a visual record of usfs smokejumping history, see the smokejumpers gallery from the fhs photo collection, as well as a clip of historic smokejumper film footage from the fhs youtube channel. Predicted fire danger was low but readings from a nearby ranger station were rh22%, fuel sticks 5%, and wind16mph indicating more severe fire danger. Robert sallee, the last survivor of the 1949 mann gulch fire, which killed smokejumpers in one of the u. Before it was contained it burned more than 4,500 acres and claimed the lives of firefighters. Predicted fire danger was low but readings from a nearby ranger station were rh22%, fuel sticks 5%, and wind16 mph indicating more severe fire danger. The c47 carrying sallee and 15 other jumpers from missoula arrived over the gulch that afternoon. Mann gulch fire commemorative sign mann gulch is the site of the august 5, 1949 mann gulch fire in which firefighters died. August 5th is the sad anniversary of the mann gulch fire in montana that took the lives of firefighters including 12 smokejumpers and one former smokejumper, in 1949.
In 1979, some 38 years after the mann gulch fire, author norman maclean contacted the intermountain fire sciences laboratory ifsl to help clarify the fire s behavior for a book he was writing about the tragedy. The mann gulch fire is the smokejumpers lone tragedy on the fire line. Late in the morning on august 5, 1949, the mann gulch fire was spotted on a ridge overlooking the river and the mouth of the gulch, by a ranger flying over in a plane. On the mann gulch fire 15 smokejumpers and a fire guard were led by their leader, wag dodge, down a steep slope toward the missouri river in an attempt to get below a fire, where they could attack. Every few moments he shouted instructions into his microphone to help pilot. Mann gulch, 1949 top 10 devastating wildfires time. Adding to the bitterness of these tragic deaths, moments before the holocaust engulfed them, their crew foreman, r. Maclean, who died in 1990, is well known as author of a river runs through it. But 45 years later the incident was repeated at storm king. Responding to the fire, the forest service dispatched fifteen smokejumpers from missoula to the remote area. Maclean first documented the rattlesnake fire in his 2003 book fire and ashes, which also included studies of a deadly 1999 fire in nevada and a look at montanas mann gulch disaster of 1949. Wagner wag dodge, pointed the way to safetyand was ignored by the men he sought to save. Mann gulch is a minor drainage, leading into the missouri river from the east. This book covers the same event as the more famous norman maclean book, young men and fire, but where macleans book focused on the fire, this one focuses on the people involved in fighting that fire, and their families.
August 5th is the anniversary of the mann gulch fire in. Professionalismthe mann gulch fire wikibooks, open books. Since his fathers book had contradicted some of the details that bob salle remembered. Robert sallee, smoke jumper who survived montanas deadly. How the mann gulch fire became part of the conversation. If youre looking for a family day hike guided by a book that reads like a historical mystery try hiking mann gulch and reading norman macleans young men and fire. The book won the national book critics circle award for nonfiction in 1992. The national smokejumper association is an organization dedicated to the preservation of the history of aerial fire management and wildland firefighting.
Aided by reminiscences of the families and the survivors of that fire, matthews builds a sort of nonfiction novel. The purpose of this article is to reanalyze the mann gulch fire disaster in montana described in norman macleans 1992 awardwinning book young men and fire to illustrate a gap in our current understanding of organizations. On this date 60 years ago, the mann gulch fire in montanas helena national forest was first spotted. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. Ive walked through the gulch with folks from all over the country, and. Remembering mann gulch by firerescue editorinchief tim sendelbach on this day, 61 years ago, one of the most tragic wildfires in u. This collection contains reports, correspondence, interviews, personal papers, photographs, films, and publications related to the development of aerial fire management and the activities of. Mann gulch and the greatest fire story ever told new. Short video summary of conditions of the mann gulch fire. An excerpt from a river runs through it by norman maclean. Sallees story and that of the mann gulch fire was detailed in norman macleans posthumously published book, young men and fire. During the mann gulch fire the concept of an escape fire was not in a smokejumpers education.
In his book, young men and fire, norman maclean describes mann gulch as a place where the struggle between mountains and plains came face to face. May 26, 20 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. The mann gulch fire on august 5, 1949, lightning struck 20 miles north of helena, and tragedy followed. Mann gulch area was located near the 15 percent contour line within this area. Still, the silence of the victims families robbed macleans account of an essential personal dimension. The first part of the book is a little slow while matthews introduces readers to the characters and their families, but it really picks up in the second half when the seemingly slow fire races out of control and consumes everything. The fire would go on to claim the lives of 12 smokejumpers and 1 fire watch guard, prompting new fire research and fire fighter training programs. The aftermaths of this incident were long lasting and devastating. Forest service usfs smokejumpers in montanas helena national forest. A critical study of the 1949 mann gulch, montana, wildfire that claimed the lives of thirteen firefighters draws on the recollections of the three survivors, their families, and colleagues to offer a momentbymoment recreation of the disaster and to describe the legacy of the fire in terms of the development of new safety equipment and training programs for firefighters. Amid some of the worst wildfire conditions america has seen in a century, a return to the book that burned. In late july of 1978, while norman maclean was doing research for his book young men and fire, he organized a trip to mann gulch with bob sallee. Forest services worst firefighting disasters, died monday.
Sep 01, 1992 young men and fire is norman macleans posthumous book about the 1949 mann gulch forest fire in montana. His second and final book, young men and fire, was. On august 5, 1949 lightning struck south side of mann gulch, in the middle of montanas helena national forest, igniting a wildfire. Forest service smokejumpers and one fire guard, as well as burn close to 5,000 acres of timber and grasslands. Aug 20, 2012 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. Later that afternoon the crew made their way toward the river along the north slope of the gulch, unaware that the fire had jumped to their side of the drainage.
Young men and fire is norman macleans posthumous book about the 1949 mann gulch forest fire in montana. The intense, fastmoving forest fire took place in what later became the gates of the mountains wilderness. Jul 18, 2010 agenda participants are expected to have read the leadership moment, chapter 2 wagner dodge retreats in mann gulch, prior to this presentation. At the time the crew jumped on the fire, it was classified as a class c fire, meaning its scope was between 10 and 99 acres.