Against The Odds The Big Burn | Evacuations | 3
Oct 14, 2025
In a gripping tale of survival, firefighters and locals face a terrifying megafire. Ed Pulaski guides his crew to an old mining tunnel while his wife Emma rushes to evacuate with their daughter. Chaos unfolds as residents scramble to escape, confronting panic and uncertainty. Tensions rise on a full train, where racial issues emerge amidst the smoky turmoil. The episode delves into harrowing moments of brave decisions, revealing the human spirit's resilience against nature's fury.
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Pulaski Finds Shelter And A Tragic Loss
- Ed Pulaski led 45 men through thick smoke toward a mining tunnel to find shelter from the 1910 megafire.
- He discovered Richard Wood crushed under a fallen tree and pressed on to save the remaining crew.
Emma Chooses Rock Over A Crowded Train
- Emma Pulaski abandons a packed train and takes her daughter to a bare-rock mining dump instead of risking the crowded evacuation train.
- She chooses open rock because it won't burn and hopes it's safer than a flaming train route.
Root Cellar Panic And A Crushed Victim
- Domenico Bruno and others cram into a tiny root cellar while nearby trees crash and flames consume the homestead.
- Dom panics, vomits, and is crushed when the cellar entrance becomes blocked by falling debris.
