Ghosts of the Fireground: Echoes of the Great Peshtigo Fire and the Calling of a Wildland Firefighter

About this book

A firefighters remarkable firsthand account of the lessons of tragedy courage and faith in the epic struggle between man and fire. In April of 2000 on the brink of one of the most ferocious fire seasons ever recorded Peter Leschak discovers the diary of Father Pernin one of the few survivors of a wildfire that hit Peshtigo Wisconsin in 1871. Throughout this harrowing summer Leschak takes us through Pernins dangerous clash with the Great Peshtigo Fire while reflecting on his own journey from the ministry to fireground leader. In so doing Leschak captures the sacred and mysterious pull of the fireground and breathes life into one of the most astounding and littleknown disasters to ever hit this country. Ghosts of the Fireground weaves seamlessly between Father Pernins struggle with an inferno so hot that not even the Peshtigo River guaranteed safety to Peter Leschaks breathtaking frontline battles 130 years later offering a compelling look at the courageous and noble pursuit that is wildland firefighting.