Jordan Thomas - When It All Burns

“A riveting story of the costs of climate change and the realities of this terrifying work, as well as an examination of the history that got us here and the very real lives now at risk.”

“A fascinating account of life as a hotshot—but also an insightful and nuanced take on how we might learn to coexist a little more sensibly with the flames we’ve unleashed on this earth. Reading this is a little akin to having an escape plan from your house: useful preparation.”

“Jordan Thomas draws on his experience as a hotshot to tell a story that’s as scary and exciting as a wildfire. When It All Burns manages to be at once deeply personal and far-reaching in scope.”

“Writing with exceptional verve, Thomas captures the furious intensity of working on the fire line... Narrative nonfiction doesn’t get better than this.”

“It is rare and wonderful when an author emerges perfectly matched to a subject and a book that also captures the spirit of the times.”

When It All Burns

A hotshot firefighter’s gripping firsthand account of a record-setting fire season

Eighteen of California’s largest wildfires on record have burned in the past two decades. Scientists recently invented the term “megafire” to describe wildfires that behave in ways that would have been nearly impossible just a generation ago, burning through winter, exploding in the night, and devastating landscapes historically impervious to incendiary destruction.

Jordan Thomas is an anthropologist and former Los Padres hotshot wildland firefighter. His work has appeared in publications including The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and The Drift.

Writing

Megafires Are a Choice

The New York Times

Writing

The New Line of Attack on Climate Science in the Age of Megafires

Writing

A Note from the Fireline