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Book Information
Genre:
HISTORY / United States / State & Local / Midwest (IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI)
Publication:
Nov 23, 2010
Pages:
281
Books by Mary Ellen Goulet
< At one minute to seven on the evening of July 7, 2007, after seven years of drought in the Southern Black Hills of South Dakota, lightning struck in Alabaugh Canyon, directly below a new development of twenty-seven homes on the top of the canyon. The canyon was overgrown with tall grasses and brittle-dry ponderosa pines and cedar trees. Many of the homes were nestled among trees, with one-way, winding dirt roads exiting the area.
Within hours, the peaceful rural neighborhood was overtaken by raging, out-of-control flames. Homeowners fled through fire and smoke, while volunteer, state and federal firefighters fought rampaging flames and, at times, ran for their lives.
Cascade of Flames tells the stories of firefighters and homeowners who lived through this disaster. Their first-hand accounts are starkly honest, frightening, gut wrenching, soul searching and hopeful.
The author and her husband also fled the flames, in their case just minutes before their fire-resistant home disintegrated in the fire, shattering their dreams in one overwhelming night.
“Preserving history through the words of those who’ve lived it provides
the most stirring and accurate account of any event—large or small. Cascade of Flames does just that.”
—Jim Kent, writer and columnist.
“A gripping account of the Alabaugh Fire that impacted so many lives—detailed, personal, devastating. Reading this opened a whole world to me.”
—Marion Dane Bauer, author of the novel On My Honor, an American Library Association Newberry Honor Book.>
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About Mary Ellen Goulet
Mary Ellen Goulet grew up in the north woods near Ely, Minnesota, where she learned to respect the beauty and power of nature. After a professional life of teaching, counseling and conducting seminars in the Twin Cities, she and her husband, Bob Lee, a volunteer firefighter, retired to the Southern Black Hills near Hot Springs, South Dakota. Bob built their house "off the grid", using passive solar and wind power, and designed it to be fire resistant. In her first book, "A (not so) Simple Life: Our Return to Rustic Roots", Mary reflected on their years living along Cascade Road in this unique, non-electric appliance house, where they were peacefully residing at the time of the Alabaugh Canyon Fire.
In spite of all her husband's precautions, their house burned to the ground soon after they were evacuated by two determined firefighters, undeterred by the dense smoke and swirling flames.
Mary spent the next three years interviewing firefighters, evacuees and others involved in this in devastating fire storm for her latest book, "Cascade of Flames"
She and her husband still live in the Black Hills of South Dakota. They are available for PowerPoint presentations regarding living "off the grid", creating fire-wise homes in the urban-interface, and promoting healing and hope after disasters.
For more information regarding Mary's presentations, to schedule a book signing or to purchase autographed copies of her books,contact the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce at hschamber@gwtc.net, or call 605-745-3098.
To listen to a brief radio interview go to SDPB.org and click on Online Section. Type in Cascade of Flames.
Read Mary's blogs at maryegoulet.blogspot.com
< At one minute to seven on the evening of July 7, 2007, after seven years of drought in the Southern Black Hills of South Dakota, lightning struck in Alabaugh Canyon, directly below a new development of twenty-seven homes on the top of the canyon. The canyon was overgrown with tall grasses and brittle-dry ponderosa pines and cedar trees. Many of the homes were nestled among trees, with one-way, winding dirt roads exiting the area.
Within hours, the peaceful rural neighborhood was overtaken by raging, out-of-control flames. Homeowners fled through fire and smoke, while volunteer, state and federal firefighters fought rampaging flames and, at times, ran for their lives.
Cascade of Flames tells the stories of firefighters and homeowners who lived through this disaster. Their first-hand accounts are starkly honest, frightening, gut wrenching, soul searching and hopeful.
The author and her husband also fled the flames, in their case just minutes before their fire-resistant home disintegrated in the fire, shattering their dreams in one overwhelming night.
“Preserving history through the words of those who’ve lived it provides
the most stirring and accurate account of any event—large or small. Cascade of Flames does just that.”
—Jim Kent, writer and columnist.
“A gripping account of the Alabaugh Fire that impacted so many lives—detailed, personal, devastating. Reading this opened a whole world to me.”
—Marion Dane Bauer, author of the novel On My Honor, an American Library Association Newberry Honor Book.>
Mary Ellen Goulet grew up in the north woods near Ely, Minnesota, where she learned to respect the beauty and power of nature. After a professional life of teaching, counseling and conducting seminars in the Twin Cities, she and her husband, Bob Lee, a volunteer firefighter, retired to the Southern Black Hills near Hot Springs, South Dakota. Bob built their house "off the grid", using passive solar and wind power, and designed it to be fire resistant. In her first book, "A (not so) Simple Life: Our Return to Rustic Roots", Mary reflected on their years living along Cascade Road in this unique, non-electric appliance house, where they were peacefully residing at the time of the Alabaugh Canyon Fire.
In spite of all her husband's precautions, their house burned to the ground soon after they were evacuated by two determined firefighters, undeterred by the dense smoke and swirling flames.
Mary spent the next three years interviewing firefighters, evacuees and others involved in this in devastating fire storm for her latest book, "Cascade of Flames"
She and her husband still live in the Black Hills of South Dakota. They are available for PowerPoint presentations regarding living "off the grid", creating fire-wise homes in the urban-interface, and promoting healing and hope after disasters.
For more information regarding Mary's presentations, to schedule a book signing or to purchase autographed copies of her books,contact the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce at hschamber@gwtc.net, or call 605-745-3098.
To listen to a brief radio interview go to SDPB.org and click on Online Section. Type in Cascade of Flames.
Read Mary's blogs at maryegoulet.blogspot.com