Fire Eaters

Summer means fire in Canada. Often, within a short time of a wildfire starting, air tankers and helicopters will appear overhead providing the first line of defense. Fire Eaters provides a detailed history of the evolution of fire fighting aircraft plus delving into the roles of the pilots, maintenance, and forestry personnel that confront this fire threat. A compelling read for those who want to understand the dynamics of fire on our landscape today along with a look into the dedicated professionals who choose to do this line of work; too often paying the ultimate price as did Juliana Turchetti, on August 7, 2024. * Tim Garrish, Air Tanker Pilot (ret’d), Conair * Fire Eaters is the most comprehensive book on aerial fire fighting that I have read. The author makes you feel like you are right there with the pioneers of the industry. He explains clearly and concisely the challenging early years of using aircraft for both detection and firebombing. And he brings us right to the currently used aircraft and technology. I found the book fascinating. This is a must read for anyone who is interested in the evolution of aerial forest protection. * Ray Bozzer, Director, Bozzer Aviation Ltd *