Part 3 pages 320-330 Summary

Part 3 pages 320-330

In the morning, Mac orders Jick and Stanley out of the camp by noon, and the two retreat up to a rock outcropping. The slope where the fire is currently burning is blocked from view, but they can see the camp by the creek and all of the Rooster Mountain Slope from where they are. The fire crew is working on making a fireline at the top of Rooster Mountain where Stanley had suggested.

When the fire moves in toward the creek, there is an avalanche of smoke and fire that suddenly fills the gulch before jumping in what Jick describes as "An exploding wave, a tide" (p.324) which engulfs the slope of Rooster Mountain. The new fireline against the rocks is what stops the fire.

After supper that night, Mac comes to acknowledge that Stanley...