Part Three Summary and Analysis

Part Three is a ten-page summation of what Maclean learned at Mann Gulch. Even to those firefighters that have decades of experience, there will always be sights and sounds at a fire that seem to have no scientific or earthly explanation. Even the things that can be explained, such as a wall of flame, are completely different when seen first hand.

In the end, there are only two real emotions left - fear and pity. When the fear has burned away, all that is left is the pity for those who died and perhaps in some way, for those who survived. Maclean refers to the thoughts of Sallee and Rumsey as they climbed the ridge in fear for their lives. Both men were too young to die and had the same thoughts as the Messiah who said, "My God...