Hell on Earth: The Wildfire Pandemic

by David L. Porter, Lee Reeder

The world is burning, and it appears that we are to blame.  Conditions that create large-scale fire disasters are occurring more frequently every year, spurred on by global warming.  And the potential for damage, loss of life, and greater harm to the environment is staggering. As devastating fires increase throughout the western and southern United States, the number of fires in the Brazilian rain forest continues to increase as well.  Vast areas of the wilderness are dying throughout the West, setting the stage for a human and environmental tragedy. David L. Porter has been covering wild fires in the west for more than twelve years.  After losing his home to a wildfire in 2003, he set out to find how and why this was happening, not only in the western US, but around the world.  Hell on Earth chronicles the origins of these catastrophes as well as the effects they are having on our planet.

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 2008

Reviews

[Jeffrey Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is quite clear from reading this book that Mr. Porter has no idea what he is talking about. He constantly contradicts himself in this book placing blame on "climate change" while pointing out poor forest management, lack of apathy from residents, arson, bark beetle infestation, too much precipitation and not enough precipitation - as causes for the wildfires in the 2003 wildland firefighting season.

It is clear that the author has an axe to grind because he lost his house during the fire and he admits later in the work that, "this book was a catharsis, defined as being 'a purifying release of the emotions or of tension, especially through art.' While this book probably doesn't qualify as art, writing it was a cleansing experience."

However, as a reader, it lacked a clear focus and was disjointed. Some of the stories were left hanging with no conclusion, other times he jumped from year-to-year or state-to-state without a clear purpose. It may have been a cleansing experience for him, but it was a confusing read for the rest of us.

If you are interested in the subject at all, I would recommend picking up any of John MacLean's books instead and skipping this one completely. This one was a frustrating read because it was aimlessly written.

[Lissa Notreallywolf · Rating 1 out of 5]

From the early chapters, a perspective: Poor writing plagues this book, and I may not be able to force myself to finish it. Of interest: bark beetles which cause trees to die and create fuel for fires. Global warming, which is increasing the number of vulnerable trees because of drought, as well as creating hot dry conditions for fires. Arsons, a group of people I have only glimpsed on CSI, are somewhat interesting in a horrid way. Better organization and a more focused structure would have aided this knowledgable eyewitness and fire survivor to write a more cohesive book. It does provide insight into how the media plays a role in disaster politics, and how FEMA is only a clean up bureau, rather than a preventative agency. The author is a reporter for weekly newspapers and much of the book reads like articles conjoined. In the introduction he mentions Katrina as an indication that we are aware that disaster response is not demonstrating prudence or forethought in America, and he notes that while Katrina is remembered the fires are not. But there is no real comparative data on Katrina vs the fires, and I haven't the patience to check death tolls and property damage figures to do that kind of comparison. What I will note is that Katrina pointed up racism whereas these fires don't seem to have that kind of attendant issue. An arduous read.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stayed reading this book in earnest about a week ago. Then a raging fire consumed Paradise, CA. Literally. There's almost nothing left. One of my closest friends lives there. Or, lived there. While she found out today that her house is still standing, not much else is. Her parents lost their home and beloved family pets. Her brother and sister each lost their homes as well. She sent me a video of her harrowing drive out of town, surrounded by flames. It all became so much more real, knowing someone who has just survived a fire of this scale - and at the time of my writing this, the Camp Fire is only 25% contained. I can not imagine how terrifying this must be to live through. Full review to come.

[Mars · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the artistic standpoint, it's average at best. Not very exciting, not very interesting, and despite being intended as a wake-up call to the problem of wildfires, it absolutely fails to get any rise out of the jaded and apathetic populace that is me.

[Brooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disjointed account of the recent (2006) fire season in the west.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 2 out of 5]

Turned out to be more in-your-face environmental than I liked...too disjointed, only finished because I'm a volunter firefighter.