Summary

Canada is a country of forests, and forests burn periodically as a means of regeneration. In the middle of one of these forests sits the town of Fort McMurray, a key oil-producing town. Because of its oil wealth, it is sometimes referred to as Fort McMoney. Shandra Linder lives and works in Fort McMurray. She and her husband and their friends are all used to the periodic fires nearby. They have faith that Alberta Forestry's wildfire crews are the best of the best and will always succeed in keeping them safe. On the morning of May 3, 2016, the Linders could see fire plumes in the distance, but they worried very little.

Vaillant explains the basics of fire in his opening chapters. For instance, all fires need a tripod of ingredients: heat, fuel, and oxygen. Then, fire needs a catalyst which could be anything from...