This book is a culmination of over five years of research that highlights the safety barriers found during the research. It makes some very hard points that many may not agree with, nor want to talk about. The federal land management agencies, firefighter associations, and other have been less than willing to discuss these issue, but they think they know it all. No outsider is going to tell them how to do their business. Yet when you look at the 103 year history of the USFS and the amount of deaths from burnover and entrapment, there is clearly a problem. They never learn from their mistakes to change behaviors. You must read the whole book to fully understand the issues they face. It is well referenced and well worth the read. Some may get mad about what it states, others may just blow it off. But is your life worth losing when others make decisions that should never be made. They'll blame you no matter what - right, wrong or indifferent. This book is well worth the money to read to get you thinking more about your safety. Safety as Priority One are hollow words that are uttered all the time. If it was true we would not have had 588 deaths from burnover and entrapment over the years. I took seven multiple death fires since 1994 and studied them in depth. You would be amazed what I found. From South Canyon to Yarnell Hill there are eerie similarities. The book is dedicated to all that have lost their lives fighting wildfire, but more importantly to the Granite Mountain Hotshots - they never had a chance.
About the Author: Mr. Guenthner has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, fire service, wildland fires, environmental, OSHA, Emergency Management, IMT training, natural disasters, logistics, communications, and planning. During this time Mr. Guenthner has also earned two Masters and has completed all but approval of his dissertation for his PhD in Public Service Leadership. For the last five years Dan has been researching and studying wildland firefighter deaths and the safety efforts of the land management agencies. He has tried to engage the USFS over the years but they have refused to enter into any meaningful dialogue. He is also currently working on several other books about incident planning and the importance of such efforts; and organizational culture and safety culture. Mr. Guenthner is a staunch advocate for wildland firefighter safety and will not give up until improvements are made relating to safety in the wildland fire service in the United States. Other people both currently working and retired also feel changes need to be made. Dan's education and experience both contributes to his understanding of the issues relating to wildland firefighter deaths and with safety needing to be number one priority at all times. Mr. Guenthner continues to do research in this area in hopes he can save the lives of the wildland firefighters out there on the line. He will not give up searching for answers and the need for meaningful dialogue.