AllMovie

In this episode of the History Channel series Wrath of God, which explores different natural disasters through the ages, there is a look at some of the most devastating firestorms in American history. First, there is a look at a fire in 1871 that destroyed a third of Peshtigo, WI, and killed over half of its residents. Many people made it to the river, where they thought they were safe, but some drowned. Seven decades later, a fire in Mann Gulch, MT, took the lives of many people, including 13 of the 16 smoke jumpers who were trying to contain the fire from spreading. Lastly, there is a look at the 1991 fire that ravished California, including the famous Oakland Hills section, where many expensive homes were destroyed. The fire was just too much for the firefighters, who fought for days to control it. Interviews with survivors and firefighters from these fires and more lend a personal and tragic touch to these horrific firestorms.