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Walk Through Fire: The Train Disaster That Changed America
On February 22, 1978, a devastating freight train derailment drastically altered Waverly, Tennessee, and its place in history. This was one of the worst train explosions of the twentieth century, killing sixteen people, injuring hundreds more, and causing millions of dollars in damage.
What could have been dismissed as a single community's terrible misfortune instead became the catalyst for radical change, including the formation of FEMA, much-needed reforms in emergency response training, and the creation and enforcement of national and state safety regulations. Response to the disaster reshaped American infrastructure and laid the groundwork for the future of emergency management and disaster relief . . . and yet most Americans have never heard of Waverly.
Dr. Yasmine S. Ali, an award-winning medical writer and Waverly native, sets out to change this in Walk Through Fire, drawing from over a decade of meticulous research and interviews with survivors, first responders, and other firsthand accounts. Ali weaves a compelling narrative of small-town tragedy set against the broader backdrop of United States railroad history, rural healthcare, and other elements of American infrastructure that played a part in the creation—and the aftermath—of the Disaster.
What could have been dismissed as a single community's terrible misfortune instead became the catalyst for radical change, including the formation of FEMA, much-needed reforms in emergency response training, and the creation and enforcement of national and state safety regulations. Response to the disaster reshaped American infrastructure and laid the groundwork for the future of emergency management and disaster relief . . . and yet most Americans have never heard of Waverly.
Dr. Yasmine S. Ali, an award-winning medical writer and Waverly native, sets out to change this in Walk Through Fire, drawing from over a decade of meticulous research and interviews with survivors, first responders, and other firsthand accounts. Ali weaves a compelling narrative of small-town tragedy set against the broader backdrop of United States railroad history, rural healthcare, and other elements of American infrastructure that played a part in the creation—and the aftermath—of the Disaster.
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Published March 28, 2023
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May 6, 2025
"As he was looking out of the windshield of his patrol car, facing west, [Sgt. Elton Smith] heard what sounded like a low-pitched, heavy clap of thunder that made the buildings shake. He would remember later that it wasn't a particularly loud sound, just a low rumble that shook everything. Yet he knew what it was. He knew exactly what it was. The tank car had blown." -- on page 77
Author Ali's Walk Through Fire recounts the train derailment in Waverly, Tennessee - a small community of about 4,400 people - during late February 1978. The incident soon led to an outright catastrophe when an overturned and damaged tank car (that was hauling liquified petroleum gas) exploded during the cleanup / salvage efforts and caused sixteen fatalities, including the town's police and fire chiefs, and 43 injuries. The author particularly focuses on the response from the area's small hospital - as her parents, a Palestinian father and Syrian mother, were respectively the surgeon and the physician on its staff - when it was suddenly inundated by dozens of patients with burn injuries of varying but sometimes horrific severity. This was an informative and brisk narrative that also quietly depicted the heroism and/or survival instincts of the various involved local first responders facing the calamity. While some of the later chapters get a little too dry - though it should be noted that this disaster was one of the reasons for the formation of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), a bureau later much-maligned in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - the sections centering on the good folks of Waverly made the most impact.
Author Ali's Walk Through Fire recounts the train derailment in Waverly, Tennessee - a small community of about 4,400 people - during late February 1978. The incident soon led to an outright catastrophe when an overturned and damaged tank car (that was hauling liquified petroleum gas) exploded during the cleanup / salvage efforts and caused sixteen fatalities, including the town's police and fire chiefs, and 43 injuries. The author particularly focuses on the response from the area's small hospital - as her parents, a Palestinian father and Syrian mother, were respectively the surgeon and the physician on its staff - when it was suddenly inundated by dozens of patients with burn injuries of varying but sometimes horrific severity. This was an informative and brisk narrative that also quietly depicted the heroism and/or survival instincts of the various involved local first responders facing the calamity. While some of the later chapters get a little too dry - though it should be noted that this disaster was one of the reasons for the formation of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), a bureau later much-maligned in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - the sections centering on the good folks of Waverly made the most impact.
October 30, 2022
Publication: February 21, 2023.
Walk Through Fire: The Train Disaster That Changed America is a riveting narrative about one of the pivotal train disasters in America - a freight train derailment in Waverly, Tennessee, on February 22, 1978.
The derailment started a chain of events that would result in 16 deaths and the establishment of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) as well as the passage of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980. On February 24, 1978, when the cleanup operation was in full swing, propane in one of the damaged tankers exploded.
Yasmine Ali, a local whose parents, doctors, were saving lives on that fateful day, got mesmerized by the quirks of fate. As with all major catastrophes, the difference between life and death lay in seemingly insignificant details. Combining interviews with archival research, the author reconstructed the minute-by-minute movements of everybody involved in the accident. For a broader overview, the author added chapters about the history of the city, railroad construction, and a hospital Nautilus Memorial that had initially treated the injured.
The book's part, directly connected with the disaster, deserves the highest praise. Due to the personal stories that can't leave the reader unmoved, I can see the book turned into a documentary or serving as a background for a drama movie about love and loss. In contrast, the following chapters focusing on the legal changes after the explosion look inferior in their ability to captivate the reader. Though important, academic style and statistical data do not allow one to immerse in the reading.
Walk through Fire will be a perfect book for those who like to travel and make discoveries in America's small towns. Waverly, Tennessee, has a museum dedicated to the events. For history buffs, the book offers the roots of today's handling of disasters, whether natural catastrophes or man-made.
I obtained an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Walk Through Fire: The Train Disaster That Changed America is a riveting narrative about one of the pivotal train disasters in America - a freight train derailment in Waverly, Tennessee, on February 22, 1978.
The derailment started a chain of events that would result in 16 deaths and the establishment of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) as well as the passage of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980. On February 24, 1978, when the cleanup operation was in full swing, propane in one of the damaged tankers exploded.
Yasmine Ali, a local whose parents, doctors, were saving lives on that fateful day, got mesmerized by the quirks of fate. As with all major catastrophes, the difference between life and death lay in seemingly insignificant details. Combining interviews with archival research, the author reconstructed the minute-by-minute movements of everybody involved in the accident. For a broader overview, the author added chapters about the history of the city, railroad construction, and a hospital Nautilus Memorial that had initially treated the injured.
The book's part, directly connected with the disaster, deserves the highest praise. Due to the personal stories that can't leave the reader unmoved, I can see the book turned into a documentary or serving as a background for a drama movie about love and loss. In contrast, the following chapters focusing on the legal changes after the explosion look inferior in their ability to captivate the reader. Though important, academic style and statistical data do not allow one to immerse in the reading.
Walk through Fire will be a perfect book for those who like to travel and make discoveries in America's small towns. Waverly, Tennessee, has a museum dedicated to the events. For history buffs, the book offers the roots of today's handling of disasters, whether natural catastrophes or man-made.
I obtained an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 27, 2023
This is an excellent look at the Waverly train disaster and is told through the eyes of people who were actually there. The author is from Waverly and her care and attention to detail are excellent. In light of the fact that so many train disasters have occurred lately, this is an important read.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
May 5, 2023
This is an excellent book. I was a volunteer firefighter on and off from 1976 to 2021. I have taught Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) courses for 30 years. I have read many books about disasters, both natural and manmade. This is one of the best. This book has no agenda other than to tell the story of the accident and its aftermath. It details the suffering of the victims and theheroic efforts of the doctors and nurses, including the author's parents to provide care for the burn victims. I have never read a book for general audiences that describes the pain and anguish that burn victims go through as well as this one does.
If you are interested in any aspect of emergency response, this book is a must read.
If you are interested in any aspect of emergency response, this book is a must read.
August 18, 2023
Very good prologue, disappointing book. Okay enough in spots and without glaring weaknesses but missing something. Like an unseasoned meal perhaps?
As much as I appreciated and related to the author's love for her hometown I needed more. While I was reading this book a close friend from high school recommended a podcast by Zak Levitt called The Set (https://www.audacy.com/podcast/the-se...). [There's a point to this tangent.] We went to HS in Providence, RI and were both working in the same field in NYC during the 1990s. The Set is about corruption in the NYPD during a specific period in 1993. Neither my friend or I had anything to do with the subject of the podcast but we had looser connections and I had a direct connection with one of the subjects of the podcast at the very time the story took place. So we both loved the podcast because it was, I believe, very well done and generally very interesting. But maybe we loved it just a bit more because we had a connection to the place, the time, and for a few extra reasons.
I think if I had any connections to Waverly or train disasters I would have at least liked the book for its relatability. Its flatness made one aspect particularly irritating though. In the prologue and Coda the author freely mentioned that her parents are physicians and played a central role in caring for the victims of the explosion. In the book, however, she referred to them as doctors Ali and Maysoon and referred to herself as an unnamed "daughter." She may have done this because in the book she elevated both to mythically heroic status and perhaps she wanted to create a sense of distance and objectivity. I didn't suddenly forget the relationship as I read the book so for whatever reason it was done that way it didn't work.
The recent catastrophe in East Palestine, OH (and lesser known accidents in the daily news) is a stark reminder that railway disasters are still a problem everywhere. I suspect there's a better book about the subject out there somewhere.
As much as I appreciated and related to the author's love for her hometown I needed more. While I was reading this book a close friend from high school recommended a podcast by Zak Levitt called The Set (https://www.audacy.com/podcast/the-se...). [There's a point to this tangent.] We went to HS in Providence, RI and were both working in the same field in NYC during the 1990s. The Set is about corruption in the NYPD during a specific period in 1993. Neither my friend or I had anything to do with the subject of the podcast but we had looser connections and I had a direct connection with one of the subjects of the podcast at the very time the story took place. So we both loved the podcast because it was, I believe, very well done and generally very interesting. But maybe we loved it just a bit more because we had a connection to the place, the time, and for a few extra reasons.
I think if I had any connections to Waverly or train disasters I would have at least liked the book for its relatability. Its flatness made one aspect particularly irritating though. In the prologue and Coda the author freely mentioned that her parents are physicians and played a central role in caring for the victims of the explosion. In the book, however, she referred to them as doctors Ali and Maysoon and referred to herself as an unnamed "daughter." She may have done this because in the book she elevated both to mythically heroic status and perhaps she wanted to create a sense of distance and objectivity. I didn't suddenly forget the relationship as I read the book so for whatever reason it was done that way it didn't work.
The recent catastrophe in East Palestine, OH (and lesser known accidents in the daily news) is a stark reminder that railway disasters are still a problem everywhere. I suspect there's a better book about the subject out there somewhere.
October 16, 2023
The story of a train derailment in the small Tennessee town of Waverly, in 1978. The disastrous results of the accident led to the formation of FEMA.
All in all the book was OK. I found the authors writing lacking and could not connect to her. Also, she seemed to jump all the place. The beginning, though slow, was a good introduction to the victims and their families. We do not get to the actual event until nearly mid book. After that there are pages and pages about the politics, the lack of disaster coordination and then we jump back to the survivors and their injuries and their treatment.
I think it would have been a much better book if all the information about the railroad company and government were at the end of the book.
All in all the book was OK. I found the authors writing lacking and could not connect to her. Also, she seemed to jump all the place. The beginning, though slow, was a good introduction to the victims and their families. We do not get to the actual event until nearly mid book. After that there are pages and pages about the politics, the lack of disaster coordination and then we jump back to the survivors and their injuries and their treatment.
I think it would have been a much better book if all the information about the railroad company and government were at the end of the book.
February 25, 2024
A frustrating read. You’re over 60% of the way through the book before you learn the cause of the accident.
Everything prior to that is a narrative of the local hospital, where the author’s parents were doctors at the time, from the leadup to the aftermath of the incident at Waverley. People who aren’t direct relatives are introduced at a rapid pace, given varying levels of background, and sometimes reappear after several chapters without any refresher.
A bit less than a third of the book is a short, scattershot history of the investigation into the accident by the NTSB, the creation of FEMA and local disaster response agencies, the changes in transportation of hazardous materials, and the modern struggles facing rural hospitals. These topics are covered at a breathless pace because of the scope.
Over a tenth of the book is the epilogue, coda, in memoriam, and acknowledgements. I’m exasperated enough to skip those and mark this as finished.
Everything prior to that is a narrative of the local hospital, where the author’s parents were doctors at the time, from the leadup to the aftermath of the incident at Waverley. People who aren’t direct relatives are introduced at a rapid pace, given varying levels of background, and sometimes reappear after several chapters without any refresher.
A bit less than a third of the book is a short, scattershot history of the investigation into the accident by the NTSB, the creation of FEMA and local disaster response agencies, the changes in transportation of hazardous materials, and the modern struggles facing rural hospitals. These topics are covered at a breathless pace because of the scope.
Over a tenth of the book is the epilogue, coda, in memoriam, and acknowledgements. I’m exasperated enough to skip those and mark this as finished.
April 2, 2023
A combination history about a man made catastrophe (e.g. Johnstown Flood), a short history of American healthcare and “rural” hospitals, lessons from regulations of trains (timely) and government catastrophe management (the birth and death and rebirth of FEMA). I hope this book does not get overlooked. Touching, compelling, and thoughtful. The author is the daughter of the Pakistani surgeon who saved the lives of a dozen critically injured burn victims.
May 8, 2025
The small town of Waverly, TN was never be the same after the train derailment on February 22, 1978. It was not that impressive but certainly the townspeople had to get as close as the local police will let them just because of the uniqueness of the occurrence. Two of the cars are tankers labeled with Anhydrous Ammonia which is a nitrous fertilizer which can be quite hazardous if not handled properly. Unfortunately, the tanker is mislabeled and the contents - liquified petroleum gas - is highly flammable. And two days later, when the railroad is attempted to transfer the contents of the damaged tanker to another, it exploded into a fireball that eliminates half the town, incinerates 6 people a short distance away and hundreds are injured with various levels of burns - many second and third degree.
There are numerous side trips: The doctors and staff at the Nautilus Memorial Hospital. The town of Waverly itself. Railroads and the Civil War. The police sergeant "Toad" Smith. The deteriorated condition of the railroad tracks as 47,000 miles of maintenance had been deferred.
The author talks about the small rural hospital that was overwhelmed with casualties. How the military at Fort Campbell sent helicopters to transport the worst burn victims to nearby Nashville and Memphis hospitals which had the facilities to handle such catastrophic injuries. How the state government provided assistance especially since the explosion decimated the local police and fire departments.
In the end, 16 were dead from burns. Over 200 were injured to various degrees. The NTSB had the high-carbon cast steel wheels removed from service before the investigation was completed and all were removed by 01/01/2079. Even railcars from Canada had to comply with the new wheel regulation which had smaller wheels for specialized cars as it was a cracked wheel that started the troubled and derailment.
It was this incident along with others that had the National Governors Association encouraging the eventual formation of FEMA in 1979 in order to coordinate disaster response although Waverly was commended for their actions and preparedness.
Then the book ends with a discussion with the loss of rural hospitals and medical treatment at a distance for large areas of rural America. The doctors who worked the disaster are still at the hospital and one of their daughters - also a doctor - was the author of the book so she was able to not only talk to the residents who endured the pain and loss but provide some insight that an outsider would be blocked from having.
2025-026
There are numerous side trips: The doctors and staff at the Nautilus Memorial Hospital. The town of Waverly itself. Railroads and the Civil War. The police sergeant "Toad" Smith. The deteriorated condition of the railroad tracks as 47,000 miles of maintenance had been deferred.
The author talks about the small rural hospital that was overwhelmed with casualties. How the military at Fort Campbell sent helicopters to transport the worst burn victims to nearby Nashville and Memphis hospitals which had the facilities to handle such catastrophic injuries. How the state government provided assistance especially since the explosion decimated the local police and fire departments.
In the end, 16 were dead from burns. Over 200 were injured to various degrees. The NTSB had the high-carbon cast steel wheels removed from service before the investigation was completed and all were removed by 01/01/2079. Even railcars from Canada had to comply with the new wheel regulation which had smaller wheels for specialized cars as it was a cracked wheel that started the troubled and derailment.
It was this incident along with others that had the National Governors Association encouraging the eventual formation of FEMA in 1979 in order to coordinate disaster response although Waverly was commended for their actions and preparedness.
Then the book ends with a discussion with the loss of rural hospitals and medical treatment at a distance for large areas of rural America. The doctors who worked the disaster are still at the hospital and one of their daughters - also a doctor - was the author of the book so she was able to not only talk to the residents who endured the pain and loss but provide some insight that an outsider would be blocked from having.
2025-026
April 26, 2025
This book covers the train derailment and subsequent disaster in Waverly, Tennessee. The train belonging to L & N Railroad derailed at the main crossing in Wavery on February 22, 1978. The train was carrying two tanker cars filled with liquid propane gas. One of the tanks was damaged during the derailment, and damaged further when crews moving the derailed cars dropped a set of train wheels on it. In addition to the damage, temperatures began warming, and despite the fire department spraying water on the tankers, the damaged car blew. The explosion occurred on February 24, 1978, just before 3pm. Sixteen people died either during the explosion or from the burn injuries they suffered as a result.
This book was written by the daughter of the only surgeon in the town. Dr. Ali was a strong leader in this time of crisis. There were many first responders, and other good citizens, who pulled together to help each other. I found this book particularly interesting because it is only about three hours from where I live. I also discovered they built a really nice memorial to commemorate those who lost their lives and the ones who helped, and I would really like to see that the next time I am out that way.
This book was written by the daughter of the only surgeon in the town. Dr. Ali was a strong leader in this time of crisis. There were many first responders, and other good citizens, who pulled together to help each other. I found this book particularly interesting because it is only about three hours from where I live. I also discovered they built a really nice memorial to commemorate those who lost their lives and the ones who helped, and I would really like to see that the next time I am out that way.
January 6, 2024
Factual book about the horrible fire in WaverlyTn.in 1978 that attributed to 16 deaths and many injured.
Parts of the town were devastated.
This was caused by a train derailment that was carrying 2 tanks of explosives.
This caught a lot of people off guard & caused tremendous grief.
FEMA was formed as a by product of this catastrophe by President Jimmy Carter.
This disaster was supposedly seen World Wide but I don't remember it,but owing too my youth & three small children,I didn't watch much news in those days.
I was,however very much aware of the devastating flood,that occurred in 2021 in Waverly,as it also
took 16 lives & caused millions in damages & was in the news for days.
This book was written by the daughter of two Drs.that were on staff at the small Hospital,during the train wreck & has memorable stories & events that happened.
If interested in Tennessee happenings,this book is a very good source.
Parts of the town were devastated.
This was caused by a train derailment that was carrying 2 tanks of explosives.
This caught a lot of people off guard & caused tremendous grief.
FEMA was formed as a by product of this catastrophe by President Jimmy Carter.
This disaster was supposedly seen World Wide but I don't remember it,but owing too my youth & three small children,I didn't watch much news in those days.
I was,however very much aware of the devastating flood,that occurred in 2021 in Waverly,as it also
took 16 lives & caused millions in damages & was in the news for days.
This book was written by the daughter of two Drs.that were on staff at the small Hospital,during the train wreck & has memorable stories & events that happened.
If interested in Tennessee happenings,this book is a very good source.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
did-not-finish
June 5, 2023I was looking forward to this book, especially after reading the spectacular opening scene, but after that the plot grinds to a halt. We learn about the background of everything - the lives of the police officers, the training of the doctors and nurses at the hospital, even the history of the town going back a couple of hundred years. Then, when we finally get to the incident at the center of the book, we see many of these people come to the hospital, each describing the same horrors over and over. It's not working for me, so I'm out after 103 pages.
June 19, 2023
Such a personal telling of this terrible thing that happened in 1978 80 miles from where I grew up, and don't remember ever hearing about it. My aunt, who lived in Nashville at the time, does remember the helicopters (from Ft Campbell?) flying over their house enroute to help. This is part disaster story, history of Tennessee and government disaster services and state of rural hospitals (theirs which played a big part in this event), and tribute to the excellent doctors (her parents were two of them) and nurses and the city of Waverly itself.
July 18, 2024
The pacing was a major issue for me (and for other readers, it seems). The amount of unnecessary (and sometimes seemingly unrelated) information unfortunately made this really difficult to get through.
January 8, 2026
This was a solid four star read for me. As a former FEMA employee, I really enjoyed doing a deeper dive into the birth of the agency. Also, this derailment happened in an area of the country I am familiar with and even mentioned Pete Rose, so there was a lot of sentimentality.
Want to read
September 23, 2024MY AUNT WROTE THIS BOOK ❤❤❤
April 1, 2025
This is a very readable, well-told story, giving me a real feel for the people and events of the day and the aftermath. I was educated not only on the train wreck disaster but also on several medical and anatomical aspects of which I was previously unaware.
November 11, 2022
Ever heard of the Waverly Train Disaster of 1978? No, I hadn't either. However, I am glad Yasmine Ali rectified that situation.
Ali, who grew up in Waverly, TN and whose parents feature prominently in the narrative, tells the story of a train derailment which turned into a massive explosion well after the crash. The explosion would leave hundreds injured and 16 dead. The aftermath would lead to the creation of FEMA in the U.S.
The good parts of this book are very good. Ali writes about Waverly in a very loving manner and her familiarity with the people of the town makes her prose that much more effective. She does not dwell too long on any one person or event and the increasing tension is palpable before the explosion. Ali's medical training also adds to the story but she never gets too deep into "doctor speak." When Ali is focused on the people and the train disaster, this book is excellent.
I have some minor quibbles. The section on legislation and the creation of FEMA slows down the book overall. Other disaster books usually need to talk about long, drawn out court battles but there wasn't much to speak of after Waverly. FEMA just sort of seemed inevitable as opposed to a true call to action over insurmountable odds.
The only other criticism is the explosion is not explained in depth. There are recollections from people in Waverly when it happened, but there is no cohesive section explaining exactly what happened when everything finally ignited. Again, this is a very minor detail and did not inhibit my enjoyment of the book. I definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys books of people or towns overcoming tragedy.
(This book was provided to me as an advance copy by Netgalley and Kensington Books. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on 2/23/2023.)
Ali, who grew up in Waverly, TN and whose parents feature prominently in the narrative, tells the story of a train derailment which turned into a massive explosion well after the crash. The explosion would leave hundreds injured and 16 dead. The aftermath would lead to the creation of FEMA in the U.S.
The good parts of this book are very good. Ali writes about Waverly in a very loving manner and her familiarity with the people of the town makes her prose that much more effective. She does not dwell too long on any one person or event and the increasing tension is palpable before the explosion. Ali's medical training also adds to the story but she never gets too deep into "doctor speak." When Ali is focused on the people and the train disaster, this book is excellent.
I have some minor quibbles. The section on legislation and the creation of FEMA slows down the book overall. Other disaster books usually need to talk about long, drawn out court battles but there wasn't much to speak of after Waverly. FEMA just sort of seemed inevitable as opposed to a true call to action over insurmountable odds.
The only other criticism is the explosion is not explained in depth. There are recollections from people in Waverly when it happened, but there is no cohesive section explaining exactly what happened when everything finally ignited. Again, this is a very minor detail and did not inhibit my enjoyment of the book. I definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys books of people or towns overcoming tragedy.
(This book was provided to me as an advance copy by Netgalley and Kensington Books. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on 2/23/2023.)
February 17, 2023
What an absolutely fascinating book! I was vaguely aware of the Waverly train disaster since my husband is a train buff. He also was on a FEMA task force that went to NYC after September 11th 2001. so knew the history of FEMA more thoroughly than I. We both have a background in emergency services and had discussed disaster management and when it began. This book filled in so many blanks in my understanding.
I was on the edge of my seat many times as Dr. Ali was counting down to the time of the disaster. Knowing this was a true story, I didn't want to get to know the people who would ultimately lose their lives. I enjoyed the narrative and how the author took remembrances from those who were actually there, and brought their memories to life.
The scenes of the hospital emergency room and how the authors parents, both doctors, worked to try to save lives was riveting. I wanted to yell my encouragement to her father when he jumped on a table and told everyone he was in charge! What a fabulous man.
The portion of the book that spoke about the changes that took place after the disaster, was needed, but for me dragged a bit. I am still a bit angry about all of the bureaucracy that played a part in this disaster, and getting help to those in need. I shed a few tears at the end of the book reading about those who perished and those who's lives changed in a split second. Where they were then and where they are now.
A fine historical account of a train derailment in a small town, that had national significance in the way we handle disasters, domestically and abroad.
I was on the edge of my seat many times as Dr. Ali was counting down to the time of the disaster. Knowing this was a true story, I didn't want to get to know the people who would ultimately lose their lives. I enjoyed the narrative and how the author took remembrances from those who were actually there, and brought their memories to life.
The scenes of the hospital emergency room and how the authors parents, both doctors, worked to try to save lives was riveting. I wanted to yell my encouragement to her father when he jumped on a table and told everyone he was in charge! What a fabulous man.
The portion of the book that spoke about the changes that took place after the disaster, was needed, but for me dragged a bit. I am still a bit angry about all of the bureaucracy that played a part in this disaster, and getting help to those in need. I shed a few tears at the end of the book reading about those who perished and those who's lives changed in a split second. Where they were then and where they are now.
A fine historical account of a train derailment in a small town, that had national significance in the way we handle disasters, domestically and abroad.
February 24, 2023
Current headlines unfortunately prove that Dr. Yasmine Ali's absorbing real-life drama here could not be more timely or alarming, an astonishing 45 years later. We are drawn into a minute-by-minute playback of the events of February 1978 in tiny Waverly, Tennessee, when a freight train derailed and the subsequent rupture of two cars filled with propane set off a killing, maiming inferno of epic proportions. Because Dr. Ali's parents lived in Waverly with their very young daughters and worked at the town's hospital, Nautilus (her father being the sole surgeon on staff), she grew up knowing many of the town's public servants, health personnel, and community and business leaders who had all been impacted in big and small ways by this catastrophe. No one had a more intimate relationship with the plight of the explosion victims in the aftermath than Dr. Ali's surgeon dad, through whose hands passed countless burn victims, many unrecognizable. His courageous, unstinting service on that day, bolstered by his wife, the nursing staff, and a host of unsung heroes from the workaday Waverly community, saved many, many lives. Equally important, the Waverly disaster was the catalyst for major legislative changes to regulate railway safety measures that could have prevented this and other similar tragedies for many, many years, and it also became the impetus for the founding of one centralized federal agency, FEMA, to replace the piecemeal patchwork of agencies tasked with handling previous disasters of this magnitude, both natural and manmade. Dr. Yasmine Ali writes with compassion, precision, and appreciation for every town character she brings into her spotlight from that fateful weekend, and her first-hand history lessons shine because of the personalities she infuses them all with. As hard as it must have been for her to listen to her family and neighbors relive the terrible events of 1978 for her research, we are all the better for it, and fortunate to witness the courage and resolve of small-town America at its best, and the common good for the whole country that arose from these ashes. Compelling journalistic nonfiction at its best.
April 26, 2025
2.5- 3 stars. You may have heard of Waverly, TN's bad luck a few years ago when the community suffered through the worst flood in TN history that killed 20 in 2021 and was covered by all news media. But, like me, you may not have heard of Waverly's bad luck in 1978 when a train derailment followed by a propane tank car explosion days later caused disaster in this small rural town 90 miles west of Nashville. As friend Mike on goodreads commented, this book gives an outstanding 5-star account of the fire and the treatment, pain and suffering of the burn victims.
Unfortunately, as other commenters on goodreads note, the rest of the book is uneven. In fact, it takes awhile to get the action because the author spends the first quarter of the book describing the people in this small city - the firemen, cops, doctors (her two parents) and the rest of the local hospital staff. You will probably grow impatient and bored by this 2-3 star account and wonder why she gives so much biographical detail of these small town regular folk before getting to the 'real' story. Of course, these are people she's known and admired all her life, but it's these small town regular folk who must deal with the disaster, pain and suffering that follows and how it changes their lives.
After the five-star account of the derailment, fire and the burn victims, the author gives a lengthy 1-star account of the regulation that follows which you'll probably find yourself skimming and skipping. Finally, just when you think you will quit without finishing, there's a 2-3-star epilog about what happens to these people years later and then a brief afterword about the flooding in 2021. (Ironically, the 2016 tornado that also hit this bad luck town isn't mentioned despite the fact that the same people experience it.) Of course, there probably isn't a county anywhere in Tennessee that hasn't experienced flooding or tornadoes at some point.
America does indeed learn from the fire disaster in Waverly to create FEMA. So something good came out of Waverly's bad luck. I actually didn't realize that FEMA was a fairly recent creation. Too bad the current administration now plans to eliminate FEMA.
Unfortunately, as other commenters on goodreads note, the rest of the book is uneven. In fact, it takes awhile to get the action because the author spends the first quarter of the book describing the people in this small city - the firemen, cops, doctors (her two parents) and the rest of the local hospital staff. You will probably grow impatient and bored by this 2-3 star account and wonder why she gives so much biographical detail of these small town regular folk before getting to the 'real' story. Of course, these are people she's known and admired all her life, but it's these small town regular folk who must deal with the disaster, pain and suffering that follows and how it changes their lives.
After the five-star account of the derailment, fire and the burn victims, the author gives a lengthy 1-star account of the regulation that follows which you'll probably find yourself skimming and skipping. Finally, just when you think you will quit without finishing, there's a 2-3-star epilog about what happens to these people years later and then a brief afterword about the flooding in 2021. (Ironically, the 2016 tornado that also hit this bad luck town isn't mentioned despite the fact that the same people experience it.) Of course, there probably isn't a county anywhere in Tennessee that hasn't experienced flooding or tornadoes at some point.
America does indeed learn from the fire disaster in Waverly to create FEMA. So something good came out of Waverly's bad luck. I actually didn't realize that FEMA was a fairly recent creation. Too bad the current administration now plans to eliminate FEMA.
October 14, 2023
Since I live in a railroad town and I can hear the trains go by my house, I was interested in Walk Through Fire. I was in high school when the Waverly Train Disaster happened, and even though my parents are both from Tennessee, I don’t remember hearing anything about it.
Ali was a child in Waverly when the disaster happened. Her parents are physicians who emigrated from the Middle East to Waverly and played critical roles in the one bright spot during the disaster – the triage work that took place in the small local hospital after the explosion. Ali is justifiably proud of them and interested in the disaster, and her personal interest is reflected in the book.
Ali covers a lot of ground. Some of the information did not add much to the story for me as a reader. For example, there is a long part about Union Forces in Tennessee during the Civil War and the laying of tracks by Black laborers, and the information about what caused the disaster was very detailed. But Ali really cares about the town and its people, and she knows many of the survivors, and her empathy for the people of Waverly really shines through. I can tell she did a lot of research and conducted a lot of interviews. She describes the terrible burns that people suffered with compassion and her own medical knowledge as a doctor.
I actually feel better about the unknown cargo on trains coming through Galesburg each night after reading this book. A lot of mistakes were made that led to the Waverly explosion, by the railroad and by local law enforcement because they had no idea how dangerous the situation is. A full investigation led to a number of changes to regulations and standards and to the creation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
I listened to the author read much of the book. She’s not a professional reader, and some of her phrasing was a little odd. However, her own passion for the subject kept me going.
If you live near trains or are interested in how disasters shaped our lives for the better by prompting safety changes, you might want to read Walk Through Fire.
Ali was a child in Waverly when the disaster happened. Her parents are physicians who emigrated from the Middle East to Waverly and played critical roles in the one bright spot during the disaster – the triage work that took place in the small local hospital after the explosion. Ali is justifiably proud of them and interested in the disaster, and her personal interest is reflected in the book.
Ali covers a lot of ground. Some of the information did not add much to the story for me as a reader. For example, there is a long part about Union Forces in Tennessee during the Civil War and the laying of tracks by Black laborers, and the information about what caused the disaster was very detailed. But Ali really cares about the town and its people, and she knows many of the survivors, and her empathy for the people of Waverly really shines through. I can tell she did a lot of research and conducted a lot of interviews. She describes the terrible burns that people suffered with compassion and her own medical knowledge as a doctor.
I actually feel better about the unknown cargo on trains coming through Galesburg each night after reading this book. A lot of mistakes were made that led to the Waverly explosion, by the railroad and by local law enforcement because they had no idea how dangerous the situation is. A full investigation led to a number of changes to regulations and standards and to the creation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
I listened to the author read much of the book. She’s not a professional reader, and some of her phrasing was a little odd. However, her own passion for the subject kept me going.
If you live near trains or are interested in how disasters shaped our lives for the better by prompting safety changes, you might want to read Walk Through Fire.
March 3, 2023
I Recommend This Modern American History Recounting
In February, 1978, the small town of Waverly, Tennessee, came to the world's attention when a train derailment and subsequent liquid propane explosion was the worst train disaster known. The small town was able to quickly come together and save many of the people injured in the explosion, although 16 died either instantly or after in hospitals due to extensive injuries.
Dr. Ali, who grew up in Waverly, was captured by the drama when she met one of the survivors when she was an adult. For a decade or more she started gathering stories from the survivors and researching not only what happened in Waverly, but also the long term effects on governmental policies and the handling of disasters. FEMA was one of many improvements that were made after the lessons learned that tragic day.
Although the topic is devastating, Ali gives the book an optimistic feel. Her writing shows the heart of the topic and the people involved, not just the overall facts. There weren't 16 casualties that day - there were 16 living, vibrant people who died due to the disaster. Ali is able to bring a few of their stories to life as well as honoring those still living who were involved or injured that day.
Ali tells Waverly's story with history behind the scenes as well. The reader learns about the important set of tracks that go through Waverly. Medical procedures leading up to that time are highlighted, and the knowledge of the time was quickly applied, saving lives and limbs that could have been lost under different circumstances. This history is interwoven with the events of the derailment through the disaster and after. The last section of the book is devoted to the ways laws started changing, the creation of different disaster protocols and agencies (including FEMA) and the continuation of the changes.
In February, 1978, the small town of Waverly, Tennessee, came to the world's attention when a train derailment and subsequent liquid propane explosion was the worst train disaster known. The small town was able to quickly come together and save many of the people injured in the explosion, although 16 died either instantly or after in hospitals due to extensive injuries.
Dr. Ali, who grew up in Waverly, was captured by the drama when she met one of the survivors when she was an adult. For a decade or more she started gathering stories from the survivors and researching not only what happened in Waverly, but also the long term effects on governmental policies and the handling of disasters. FEMA was one of many improvements that were made after the lessons learned that tragic day.
Although the topic is devastating, Ali gives the book an optimistic feel. Her writing shows the heart of the topic and the people involved, not just the overall facts. There weren't 16 casualties that day - there were 16 living, vibrant people who died due to the disaster. Ali is able to bring a few of their stories to life as well as honoring those still living who were involved or injured that day.
Ali tells Waverly's story with history behind the scenes as well. The reader learns about the important set of tracks that go through Waverly. Medical procedures leading up to that time are highlighted, and the knowledge of the time was quickly applied, saving lives and limbs that could have been lost under different circumstances. This history is interwoven with the events of the derailment through the disaster and after. The last section of the book is devoted to the ways laws started changing, the creation of different disaster protocols and agencies (including FEMA) and the continuation of the changes.
July 15, 2024
Tale of two books. I enjoyed the first half (probably a little more than half). There are some interesting historical tidbits about Waverly, Tennessee and the author’s family, and the descriptions of the accident itself and those it affected are compelling. The description of the people and their injuries is raw and heartbreaking, and the description of how little ol’ Waverly handled the immediate aftermath of the explosion is uplifting. That’s where the author is at her best, and it’s good stuff. The second half (little less) about the regulatory response could have used some editing. The description of the changes to the railroad industry was particularly dry. The description of the creation of FEMA is interesting, but it needed to lose some of the minutiae. I’m a native Tennessean, and I didn’t know anything about this event even though it occurred after I was born. I generally enjoy this kind of story, learning about something that I would have thought I’d heard of before now. And the connection to the creation of FEMA is truly fascinating. It’s written in a mostly matter-of-fact style, and as I said, could have used some editing in parts. All in all, 3 stars.
March 24, 2023
This is the best nonfiction book I've ever read
And I've been an avid reader for over 60 years.
The episode at the center of this book is illuminated and enriched by the incredible depth of research and interviews done with all the survivors. Dr. Ali's writing brings every personal story to vivid life. Her explanations of each aspect of Waverly's town, history, wonderful people, technical findings of the cause of the disaster, technical and historical evolution of laws to deal with disasters and prevent them, and the hospital environment are clear, compelling, and totally understandable.
I've never had a "history" book grab and hold my attention so thoroughly. This book is a treasure as a remarkable memorial to those sadly lost and an honor to all the large and small heroes of Waverly who survived. Dr. Ali may be a doctor, but she is also an engaging, empathic, and talented TEACHER. I hope she will continue to share her astute insights in more books in the future.
And I've been an avid reader for over 60 years.
The episode at the center of this book is illuminated and enriched by the incredible depth of research and interviews done with all the survivors. Dr. Ali's writing brings every personal story to vivid life. Her explanations of each aspect of Waverly's town, history, wonderful people, technical findings of the cause of the disaster, technical and historical evolution of laws to deal with disasters and prevent them, and the hospital environment are clear, compelling, and totally understandable.
I've never had a "history" book grab and hold my attention so thoroughly. This book is a treasure as a remarkable memorial to those sadly lost and an honor to all the large and small heroes of Waverly who survived. Dr. Ali may be a doctor, but she is also an engaging, empathic, and talented TEACHER. I hope she will continue to share her astute insights in more books in the future.
July 29, 2023
Due to my background in healthcare, I picked up this book after seeing the author's posts on social media. I was curious to read a book written by a physician on a topic other than clinical practice and medical diseases. It is very well-written with a large amount of research behind it. The story of the train derailment and subsequent explosion was told through the eyes of local residents who were interviewed by the author. Dr. Ali's parents were physicians working in Waverly, Tennessee at the time of the incident. They and area nurses provided stories of the injured, and details of how a small hospital quickly triaged and treated the influx of patients. Then Dr. Ali writes of a number of misteps, that when combined, caused the train derailment and explosion. She also tells of legislation and measures taken to improve safety in the railroad industry. The author's clear and interesting storytelling allowed me to come away with a good understanding of these topics despite having no particular interest or prior knowledge of them.
October 18, 2025
The author tells the account of a freight train derailment that happened in her hometown of Waverly, Tennessee on February 22, 1978. During the clean-up, a tank car filled with propane exploded and sixteen people died as a result. The author's parents were doctors at the local hospital and she tells how the hospital and community dealt with the onslaught of injured and dying victims of the catastrophe. The town of a little over 4,000 was not adequately equipped or prepared for such a tragedy. This disaster was the impetus for the formation of FEMA, so that in the future, a plan would be in place when there was a need.
The author interviewed many people from the community who were present and helped after the disaster occurred. There were firefighters, police, Civil Defense, and the medical personnel at the hospital who responded to the emergency. It was a heart wrenching, but very readable account of what this closeknit community went through during and after the tragedy.
The author interviewed many people from the community who were present and helped after the disaster occurred. There were firefighters, police, Civil Defense, and the medical personnel at the hospital who responded to the emergency. It was a heart wrenching, but very readable account of what this closeknit community went through during and after the tragedy.
December 16, 2025
The story of a horrific train derailment that occurred in a small Tennessee town in 1978. The resulting devastation was one of the reasons FEMA was created. The book shows the importance of rural hospitals, the way neighboring towns pulled together to help in the aftermath. The way the people in the town rushed to help, even though some were grievously injured themselves.
I can’t imagine what it was like, the horrific burns that people suffered, the idea that some of these unrecognizable people might be your friends or even family members.
This was an accident that didn’t need to have happened and resulted in important changes made to transporting dangerous items across the country. It stresses all the things that went wrong, that could have been avoided.
Help came from neighboring towns, local bases sent help, governors got involved, people pulled together.
Books like these show the importance of laws that were enacted after disasters and the reason why they are still relevant today, no matter what the supposedly learned politicians try to make you believe.
I can’t imagine what it was like, the horrific burns that people suffered, the idea that some of these unrecognizable people might be your friends or even family members.
This was an accident that didn’t need to have happened and resulted in important changes made to transporting dangerous items across the country. It stresses all the things that went wrong, that could have been avoided.
Help came from neighboring towns, local bases sent help, governors got involved, people pulled together.
Books like these show the importance of laws that were enacted after disasters and the reason why they are still relevant today, no matter what the supposedly learned politicians try to make you believe.
January 20, 2025
I grew up not too far from Waverly, Tennessee. I have some personal connections there. I also had a job where I previously drove into Waverly to three different locations in or around there. I drove past the site of the disaster daily. Thought about it daily. I was only six when it happened but I remember it distinctly because even at that age I knew it was very close and we saw it on the news every night for a while. This book was a page turner , until it got into all of the procedural stuff and explaining history of Law and everything. That was in the last chapter or two. I found that to be interesting but it wasn't as exciting as the first 80% of the book. I still rated at five stars because it was just well written, an easy read, and really represented the good people of Waverly and Humphreys County quite well. If you want to read the single incident that accelerated the formation of FEMA, this is the book.
March 8, 2023
WALK THROUGH FIRE by Dr. Yasmine Ali tells the story of the 1978 train derailment and subsequent propane tanker explosion that killed 16 and scarred my sweet hometown of Waverly, Tennessee.
This is a story many of us Waverly natives know by heart, but even I have learned facts from this book I didn't previously know.
Yasmine's parents, both physicians, had moved to Waverly not long before the explosion. It was their diligence and fortitude that kept the death count no more than it was. And from this disaster came the creation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
Yasmine relied both on case documents and local interviews to write the first and only book to detail the disaster.
I'm so thankful for her hard work. And y'all, the woman can write a damn book. The prologue alone left me gasping!
This is a story many of us Waverly natives know by heart, but even I have learned facts from this book I didn't previously know.
Yasmine's parents, both physicians, had moved to Waverly not long before the explosion. It was their diligence and fortitude that kept the death count no more than it was. And from this disaster came the creation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
Yasmine relied both on case documents and local interviews to write the first and only book to detail the disaster.
I'm so thankful for her hard work. And y'all, the woman can write a damn book. The prologue alone left me gasping!
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