Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction to the 50th Anniversary Edition xiii
Prologue: A Very Wet Spring xvii
I "Lord, I wish it would rain." 1
II The Race of Terror 1
III "I thought it was the end of the world." 17
IV The Common Enemy 35
V Down Millionaires' Row 49
VI "We knew we were doomed." 77
VII The Day of the Big Wind 85
VIII "We thought we were going to he comfortable." 139
IX "All safe. Home gone." 159
X "Rumor has a thousand tongues." 173
XI The Battle of the Bulldozers 187
XII Rain, Beautiful Rain 209
XIII "I wouldn't want to see it repeat." 229
Epilogue: The '47 Fire 241
Appendix A Glossary of Firefighting Terms 251
Appendix B Damage Estimates from the 1947 Fires 253
Bibliography 255
Index 263
About the Author 277
Photographs following page 100
Maps following page xxi