Dodging blame in Young Men and Fire

Dodging Blame in Young Men and Fire

Norman Maclean’s book Young Men and Fire explores the history and controversy of the Mann Gulch Fire that killed twelve men in 1949. Wag Dodge, the foreman, set an escape fire that was intended to help his crew avoid the flames.  It has been argued, though, that this escape fire did not help the crew survive, but in fact was the cause of their death.  Although Dodge’s escape fire may have killed some of the Smokejumpers, the Smokejumpers are responsible for their own deaths.  Dodge’s intentions were to save his crew, but they did not respect his authority and thus perished in the flames from their decision to insubordinate.

The Mann Gulch Fire caused controversy in part because of Wag Dodge’s escape fire.  An escape fire is a small fire that the main fire burns around, leaving what was in the small fire area untouched.  With an escape fire, the escapee lies down in the ashes of the small fire and lets the larger fire pass over them.  Dodge’s escape fire caused controversy because it is questionable whether the men who perished in Mann Gulch died because of the main fire, or because Dodge’s escape fire burned them before the main fire.  One reason it was controversial was because the “escape fire method” was never taught to the Smokejumpers or Dodge, making it a risky practice.  Some of the parents of the lost Smokejumpers wanted to hold Wag Dodge responsible for their son’s death, even though it has never been proven that his escape fire was the actual cause of death.  Even though some may believe that Dodge’s escape fire caused the death of these Smokejumpers, his intentions were in the right place, and the Smokejumpers perished because they did not listen to him.

First of all, Dodge’s intentions with his escape fire were to save his crew from the deadly flames, not to kill them.  It would be easier to place blame of Dodge if his intentions were negative, but they were not.  His actions were heroic, yet people want to blame him for the deaths.  Maclean points out that in a course of quick action, Dodge realized that if he did not make this fire, the crew would perish: 

He saw that in front was high dry grass that would burn very fast, saw for the first time the top of the ridge at what he judged to be about two hundred yards above, put two and two together and decided that he and his crew couldn’t make the two hundred yards, and almost instantly invented what was to become known as the “escape fire” by lighting a patch of bunch grass with a gofer match. (Maclean 74)

Making the escape fire was the only option Dodge had to help him and his crew survive.  Clearly Dodge intended to save the lives of these men, even if his attempts fell short.  With the race against the fire, it was a question whether that Dodge and the crew would make it to the ridge before becoming engulfed in flames.  Maclean said, “[a]t the Review, he made very clear that he believed there was not enough time left for them to make it to the top of the hill, and events came close to supporting his belief (Maclean 94).”  If the crew were going to die anyway, at least there was an attempt to save them.  If the crew had joined Dodge in his escape fire like he intended, they would all be alive.  Even though Dodge did not intend to kill anyone, one might argue that using an escape fire was too dangerous a method.

If someone wanted to charge Dodge for the death of the Smokejumpers, they could argue that Dodge used a dangerous method that was not taught to any of the men.  Dodge admits to never being taught how to make or use an escape fire.  Maclean says, “[w]hen asked whether he had “ever been instructed in setting an escape fire,” Dodge replied, ‘Not that I know of.  It just seemed like the logical thing to do’(Maclean 101).”  One could argue that not knowing the proper method of creating an escape fire is dangerous and reckless, and caused the crew to perish in flames.  This line of thought could make one believe Dodge is responsible for the crew’s death.  Maclean says, “[a]t the time it probably made no sense to anyone but Dodge to light a fire in front of the main fire.  It couldn’t act as a backfire; there wasn’t any time to run a fire-line along its upgulch edge to prevent it from being just an advance arm of the main fire (Maclean 92).”   The crew must have thought their foreman had lost his mind, and decided to not listen to him.  It is true that the method Dodge chose was risky because he nor the crew had experience with escape fires, but it was the only option Dodge had to save his crew from the fire.

Even though the escape fire method was not taught to any of the Smokejumpers, the crew should have listened to their foreman.  The foreman is the boss of a crew, and his orders are supposed to be adhered to.  Maclean said, “[o]n the march, the foreman sizes up the situation, makes the decision, yells back the orders, picks the trail, and sets the pace (Maclean 65).”  Clearly the foreman is in charge crew are supposed to follow the foreman’s orders.  Through his orders, it is clear that Dodge intended to get his crew in the escape fire and save them.  Sallee said, “I saw Dodge jump over the burning edge of the fire he had set and saw him waving his arms and motioning for the other boys to follow him(Maclean 99).” Unfortunately, the crew failed to heed to their foreman’s instructions.  Dodge was in a superior position for a reason, and they crew should have respected his leadership:

In the roar and smoke he kept “hollering” at them--he was sure that at least those closest to him heard him and that those behind understood him from his actions.  In smoke that swirled and made sounds, there was a pause, then somebody said, “To hell with that, I’m getting out of here.” and a line of them followed the voice. (Maclean 94)

Clearly the crew were insubordinate.  If the crew were subordinate, they would have survived in the escape fire, but because they chose not to listen to Dodge, they perished in the flames.  As the foreman, Dodge was looking out for their best interest, so it would have been wise of the crew to listen to him.  Maclean said, “[a]lthough the foreman has little direct contact with his crew,...his first job is to see that his men are safe.  He is always asking himself, Where is a good escape route? (Maclean 67).”  If they had followed Dodge’s instructions they would have survived alongside him in the escape fire.  Even though using an escape fire was risky and not practiced, the crew should have trusted their boss.   Subordination is key when under such high pressure situations.  When every action counts, the person with the most experience and rank is in charge and should be listened to.  Because the crew were insubordinate and did not heed to Dodge’s instructions, they are responsible for their own deaths.

Although there has been much controversy over the death of the Smokejumpers in the Mann Gulch Fire, Wag Dodge should not be held responsible for the lives lost.  Dodge’s intentions with the escape fire were not to harm his crew, but to help them.  One could argue that the Smokejumpers did not have the proper training to use an escape fire, making Dodge seem irrational for using one, but in the end, the crew should have listened to their foreman and respected his rank.  Because of these reasons, the smokejumpers should be held responsible for their own death, not Dodge.

Works Cited

Maclean, Norman. Young Men and Fire. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1992. 65-101. Print.