Timothy Egan talked about his book The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt & the Fire That Saved America (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; October 19, 2009). He talked about the largest forest fire in American history. On August 20, 1910, drought-ravaged areas of Washington, Idaho, and Montana went up in flames as winds created a massive blaze. A group of 10,000 men were organized by forest rangers to stop the fire that destroyed small towns and national forests and killed nearly 100 people. Mr. Egan recalled the struggles of the fire-fighters that inspired the nation to continue on with former President Teddy Roosevelt’s interest in preserving forest land. He responded to questions from members of the audience.
This program of the Tucon Festival of Books was held in Gallagher Theater of the Student Union of the University of Arizona.