Hell on Earth: The Wildfire Pandemic

By David L. Porter and Lee Reeder

Book Overview

The world is burning, and it appears that we are to blame. Devastating wildfires are increasing throughout the United States. Each year, more and more acres of the Brazilian rain forest are destroyed in ferocious blazes. Vast areas of wilderness around the world are dying, setting the stage for a human and environmental tragedy. David L. Porter had been covering wild fires in the American Southwest for more than twelve years. The loss of his Lake Arrowhead home to a wildfire in 2003 compelled him to look more closely into why conflagrations are rising worldwide. Porter's investigation revealed a global pandemic of wildfires, which has been highlighted by the 2007 fires in Southern California. Hell on Earth gives readers a greater awareness of the growing threat of massive wildfires and outlines the political, social, and environmental effects these blazes have on our planet. It also takes a look at what we can do at an individual level to ensure our safety---from local forest management to fire safety precautions to global initiatives. It is our responsibility to take action and protect our planet and lives from these catastrophes or become their victims. Hell on Earth is wake up call for us all.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076532220X
• ISBN13: 9780765322203
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

interesting cautionary book

At a time when California struggles again with the annual wild fires and other parts of the country also have trouble from out of control infernos, HELL ON EARTH is a timely insightful look at what is going on. The author somewhat personalizes his account by telling how he felt when his own house was destroyed during the 2003 season. However, much of the book is making a scientific case that it will get worse not better based on the combination of global warming and the political and public indifference to the fires (except when a person is personally involved). David L. Porter believes the firestorms have not yet had its perfect storm yet though have come close. The environmental disaster is a Catch 22 as the warmer climate brings in new predators destroying trees and the fires devastating much more adding CO2 into the atmosphere to warm the climate even further. Although well written with a strong scientific case for action and containing many anecdotal examples and showing somewhat the heroic side of the fire fighters and their frustrations, Mr. Porter fails to put a victim's face on the fires. He mentions names, but never really digs deep into those who lost their lives, loved ones, or property. Still in fairness his premise is to argue we can win the wildfire war, but must take action now starting with declaring war. This is an interesting cautionary book that warns HELL ON EARTH has only begun. Harriet Klausner