Fire Eaters: The People and Aircraft Combatting Wildfires Over the Last Century

by Peter Pigott

The riveting history of how aircraft have transformed the fighting of wildfires.

When threatened by wildfires throughout history, our only defense was to pray for rain and run — and until aircraft changed the way we fight fires. Beginning with the Canadian “H-Boats” in 1924, aircraft have become indispensable in detecting and extinguishing wildfires. Fire Eaters tells the incredible stories of the Ontario Provincial Air Service, the first government aerial fire suppression organisation in history, one of its pilots, Carl Crossley, who invented the water scoop up and drop off system, and the Canadair CL-215, the first purpose-built water bomber.

Today, helicopters with “Bambi Buckets” and snorkels can dump water while hovering directly over the flames, and Air Tractors and Dash 8-400AT air tankers not only perform a crucial role in saving communities but protect our ecosystem. Satellites, unmanned aircraft able to fly for 16-hours, even overnight when manned aircraft do not, and Artificial Intelligence already play a decisive role in fire management.

But it is the men and women of the aerial fire service who have really changed the way we fight fire around the world. Their bravery and dedication mean that response times are fast, fires can be contained sooner, and people have the chance to save rather than lose everything.

Genres: Nonfiction

248 pages, Paperback

Published May 27, 2025

Reviews

[Mike Broderick · Rating 2 out of 5]

”The riveting story”.
No, not riveting. I know the description mentioned that the book would discuss the transformation of aircraft to fight forest fires, but I did not realize how painstakingly the book would do so.

Cool cover, decent description and the promise of a good non fiction.
More stories of how each plane was used, with first hand accounts was what I was hoping for. Unfortunately, it was a dream book for those that enjoy the mechanics of how things work and for a history lesson of how aircraft has changed over time.

Not for me, but could be in other reader’s wheelhouses.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about the history of firefighting and how combatting wildfires has changed over time. This book especially touched me because I live in an area that has to deal with wildfires on a constant basis. I also found the technical information on the aircrafts and how important they have become in fighting the wildfires.

[Mathieu Leboeuf · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic read for aviation passionate! lots of technical details and great historical facts from Canadian and US aerial fire fighting.

I discovered Peter Pigott with this book and I'll chase its other books about Canadian aviation history

highly recommend

[Melissa Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a book for aviation geeks. I liked the history about firefighting but wish it had more personal stories in it.