Dances with Fire: Lessons in Life, Faith & Firefighting

by Kate Hamberger

She became a rookie hotshot at the age of eighteen. Fighting raging forest fires in the canyons of California and on the mountains of Oregon and Colorado, and even in the sawgrass seas of Florida’s Everglades, Kate Hamberger spent six summers facing physical and mental challenges few are called to meet. Working alongside veteran firefighters in a dangerous, male-dominated profession, Hamberger not only survived – she also thrived … matching the men on her team stride-for-stride as they all undertook the thrilling – and dangerous – job of fighting wildfires.

In this riveting memoir, Hamberger recounts the fires she and her squads worked to control across the United States, the physical reserves they were forced to call upon in order to survive, the extraordinary people she fought alongside, and the close relationships that developed under the most intense of environments. With great honesty and eloquence, she also speaks of falling in love and the missteps that are made when you realize that life has only prepared you for so much. She credits her faith with getting her through times of fear, loneliness, and uncertainty as she becomes a veteran firefighter herself.

In Dances with Fire , Hamberger relates the specifics of such infamous fires as the Yellowstone Fires of ’88 and the Dude Fire of ’90. She also recounts her days of working with the Prineville Hotshots before they left for the devastating and deadly South Canyon Fire of ’94. A classic, picaresque tale of adventure and love, triumph and heartbreak, Kate Hamberger’s story of life on and off a hotshot crew during her summers of fire is a must read.

357 pages, Paperback

Published July 8, 2024

Reviews

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and provides a great understanding of the dangers, adventure and hardships of the forest firefighters. A real "page turner".

[Barbara Hettwer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I had never read anything quite like it. Kate expertly weaves vignettes from her personal life into her story about being a hotshot firefighter for 6 summers. The fire descriptions are realistic and scary. There are a few dangerous moments as one would expect. Her description of trudging uphill with a heavy backpack and digging fire lines for hours with a Pulaski made me appreciate her suffering and aching muscles! She relates stories of her fellow firefighters in such a way that the reader finds them amicable as well as professional. Her personal story helps the reader understand what would motivate a young woman to take on such a physically challenging job in a mostly male environment. Her love for music comes through as she often mentions what song she was listening to at a poignant moment in the story. She reveals her deep moral convictions which motivate many of her choices. Definitely worth the read.

[Jamie Forbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dances with Fire is an inspiring memoir about a young woman's angst in life choices while working in one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, fighting wild fires on our Western national public lands. Even as she struggles with the career and partner decisions that face everyone, the reader can't but help admire her resilience and courage. Whatever her fate is to be, one learns early on that this narrator is a heroine in the best sense of the word. At times, conclusory statements are made that the readers wants to know more about. For example, the narrator's relationship with both parents seems strained and we never learn the source of that or why or how it resolves. But the spirit of hopefulness in this memoir in the face of horrific tragedies makes it an essential read.

[Nicki Ehrlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary life experience deftly recorded. A half-dozen years of schooling, traveling, and fighting fires burn through the pages of Hamberger’s book. Brace yourself to feel the heat, the trepidation, the exhaustion, and camaraderie of each fireline, each incident, each moment of personal growth. You will learn about fire suppression and what it takes to be a hotshot, and you will learn how a young woman, with a strong commitment to faith, overcomes fear, honors nature, suffers loss, and finds family.

[Carmen Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is definitely a page-turner! Kate Hamberger tells the story of her 6 years as a fire fighting hot shot with honesty and in vivid detail. There were beautiful descriptions of peaceful experiences in remote locations and tragic stories of lives lost to fire. Throughout these years she is also wrestling with her education, her career path, her relationships and her faith. I will never again hear about a forest fire without whispering a prayer for the protection of the brave men and women who fight these fires on our behalf.

[Esther A Gladney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It!

I've never read a book where I felt like it was written for me. I felt like a richer person after reading it.

She has an original writing style that gives so much context in the most concise eloquence I could hope for in a book.

As it is my new favorite inspirational nonfiction, a mere recommendation will not suffice. My close friends will be getting their own copies.

[Valentina Witley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes this book especially compelling is Kate’s perspective as a young woman entering a demanding, male-dominated profession at just eighteen. Her experiences fighting fires across the West and in the Florida Everglades are vividly described, and the physical and mental toll of the work is never sugar-coated. The accounts of major fires, including Yellowstone ’88 and the Dude Fire, add historical weight and emotional gravity to the story.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.