Book reading questions
The Esperanza Fire: Arson, Murder, and the Agony of Engine 578
1) What started the fire that resulted in the firefighters deaths?
2) Who is Raymond Oyler?
3) What state were the fire shelters found in after the fire had passed?
My Lost Brothers: The Untold Story by the Yarnell Hill Fire’s Lone Survivor
1) Who did Brandon live with off and on through his formative years?
2) What is Brandon’s nickname?
3) What his passion as a youth? Is this where his nickname came from?
4) What was a problem for him from his youth up until the time he joined the HotShot Crew?
Fire on the Mountain: The True Story of the South Canyon Fire
1) Who is Chris Cuoco? What Role did he play in the tragedy?
2) What 2 agencies that sit almost in view of each other carry some blame for their lack of communication?
3) What prompted confusion about who was in charge of the incident?
4) How did the hot shot crew get their tools when they got to the location?
Answer preview
The Esperanza Fire: Arson, Murder, and the Agony of Engine 57
- The Esperanza Fire started as a result of arson act. It is believed that there were people who deliberately set the fire out. The rationale behind this is that where the fire started, behind a low-wire fence, remnants of arsonist’s crude creation, that is, six wood matchsticks that were attached to a cigarette by a rubber band. Later on, the investigation found that combination of wind, fuel vulnerability, and the geography of the location where the firefighters were located plus the thermal uplifting enhanced the intensity of the fire.
Raymond Lee Oyler was a mechanic from Beaumont charged and sentenced for setting up the Esperanza fire that killed five firefighters. He was arrested on speculation….
(500 words)