Prologue. Seeing meaning in the flames
1. Why fire?
Fire's narrative
An imperial narrative
America's narrative
Rhythms and reasons
2. Torch and shovel : the means of fire management
Option 1. Let burn
Option 2. Suppress
Option 3. Prescribe burn
Option 4. Change combustibility
The elements compounded
3. Sparks and embers : ideas in the wind
The big fire
Firestop II and Firestart I
Fire in the mind
Fire as community
4. Flash points : fire scenarios for the future
The fires this time and next
The not-quite vestal fire on the no-long virgin land
The big burn
Epilogue. Imaging fire
Appendix. Fire's American century : by the numbers.