The Big Burn

00:01:17 NARRATOR: On August 19, 1910,

00:03:16 through society.

00:05:21 One reporter called it "the wickedest city in America."

00:07:07 of saving forests.

00:09:14 the forces of unbridled capitalism would devour them

00:11:19 of the Forest Service, bigger than most European countries.

00:13:23 the way they'd been taught, full of innovation, energy,

00:15:32 EGAN: When they come through, sparks go off.

00:18:13 Pinchot needed a weapon to fight back.

00:20:41 All of May, no rain.

00:22:28 who was seven or eight at the time.

00:24:50 "Don't let the spirit of the service decline one-half inch.

00:26:52 became so dire

00:28:56 "We've contained most of them.

00:31:07 the tops of the white pine and spruce.

00:33:38 As glowing cinders had begun to cascade around their house,

00:36:07 and the men began to panic.

00:38:37 And he passes out at the head of this cave.

00:41:10 Now, the troops and the few men left in town

00:43:20 to burn through the smoke and haze,

00:45:44 were all the dead fire fighters.

00:47:23 join the pantheon of American heroes.

00:49:19 It may have been the right policy for the agency,

00:51:33 without what came to be known as a Pulaski by their side.