Young Men & Fire | Objects, Setting & Important Places

Young Men & Fire Objects/Places

Mann Gulch

Mann Gulch is the site of one of the largest and deadliest fires in the history of the U.S. The Gulch is located in the heart of the Helena National Forest in Montana, not far from Missoula. The Gulch also borders the Missouri River.

In 1949, Mann Gulch was the site of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 13 Smokejumpers, members of the U.S. Forest Service that routinely jumped from airplanes into the heart of a forest fire with the hopes of containing it or extinguishing the blaze.

Mann Gulch is the central location in the book as the author relives his experiences at Mann Gulch as well as those who were directly involved in the tragedy. Maclean, having been in the U.S. Forest Service in World War I, had an intense desire to see the fire and experienced first hand the devastation it caused.

In the beginning,...
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