Against The Odds The Big Burn | The Blow-Up | 2
Oct 7, 2025
A harrowing tale unfolds as ranger Ed Pulaski leads his crew in a desperate bid to save Wallace from raging fires. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Soldiers bravely construct firebreaks amid local hostility. Tension escalates when Pulaski must find a safe tunnel for his men while ranger Bill Weigel risks everything to rescue a family trapped in a creek. As the flames inch closer, survival instincts kick in, revealing the chaotic yet heroic efforts of those faced with nature's fury.
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The 1910 Megafire Ignites
- In 1910 drought and heat turned the Coeur d'Alene National Forest into a tinderbox, sparking hundreds of fires.
- Strong winds on August 20 combined many blazes into a single megafire, the largest wildfire in U.S. history.
Buffalo Soldiers Hold The Line
- Private Roy Green and 50 Buffalo Soldiers dug firebreaks near Avery under oppressive heat and smoke.
- They suspected racial motives kept them assigned away from wealthier towns and deeper firefighting work.
Pulaski Finds His Men Missing
- Ranger Ed Pulaski searches the ravine for his missing crew amid blinding smoke and wind.
- He decides evacuation toward Wallace is their only hope when the men panic and can't complete the firebreak.