When Claire Kennedy moved into her new home in New South Wales, Australia, she knew that the chances of her house catching fire were high. A forest bordered Claire's property, but even though this gave her the opportunity of en- joying the presence of wild animals and vegetation, there was a downside. The trees and bushes surrounding her home might easily catch fire during the hot, dry summer and set her home in flames. Claire was lucky, and her home remained un- touched by fire for nineteen seasons. But when the summer of 2001 arrived, her greatest fear came true-a forest fire was getting too close to her home.

Captain Daniel Ainsworth of the New South Wales Bushfire Brigade quickly headed toward Claire's property to make sure it would be secure. Claire's property was on the eastern side of the Pacific Highway, and the fire was burning on the...