One Foot in the Black
A Novel About Wildland Firefighters
Driven from home by an abusive father, Greg Kowalski heads west to California to become a seasonal firefighter. As he struggles to build a new life, Greg comes of age when his helitak crew faces a fatal firestorm.
Malibu resident Kurt Kamm has used his experience in several devastating local wildfires and his access to Los Angeles County firefighters to write a compelling novel about the life of a wildland firefighter. He has lived through several fires in Malibu. The October 2007 Canyon Fire, a seventy mile per hour Santa Ana wind driven inferno, burned to his front door.
Fire Safety and More
Read Kurt's Blog. Check out his most popular posts:
Fire Camp 8 - The Old Nike Missile Site
Fire Camp 13 - The Female Prison Inmate Fire Camp
See the blog series "Firefighter’s Words"
“This is what we do. The real thing!”
—Capt. Larry Tucker, LA County Fire Dept.
“An exciting & emotional tale of wildland firefighters.”
—Melissa Schwagerl, Wildland Firefighter Foundation.
“A wonderful story, I didn't want the book to end.”
—Paul Sans, Battalion Chief, CalFire.
Download a chapter from
One Foot in the Black
Even the toughest, meanest firefighter finds time
to curl up to read One Foot in the Black
Light the Fire, in my weary soul ....
C'mon Baby Light my fire ....
Light the fire again ....
Flames. On the side of my face.
Burning, breathing, breathless flames.