Fire Wars

A particularly relevant title in light of the numerous blazes burning in states across the U.S. this summer, NOVA's two-hour Fire Wars, narrated by Stacy Keach, examines the causes, assesses the damages (environmental, economic, and human), and outlines some of the solutions involved in dealing with this unruly force of nature. Whether it starts from a lightning storm, a careless individual, or is a "prescribed" fire (i.e., set by professionals for a specific reason), fires can be unpredictable, which is why each summer some 30,000 people end up fighting dangerous blazes. In addition to looking at the origins of various kinds of fires (such as a "crown fire," in which a fire jumps up into the trees), Fire Wars also follows the Arrowhead Hotshots, a select group of firefighters sent to the hottest spots, as well as smokejumpers who leap from planes to battle blazes in more isolated areas. While examining fires in New Mexico, Colorado and Idaho, the program interweaves historical information about wildfires (including the origin of Smokey the Bear) with commentary from authors, government officials, and fire service workers. Packed with facts and figures, sporting excellent computer graphics, and offering projections about promising new technologies, this timely look at a serious issue is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Williams)