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ONE FOOT IN THE BLACK – A Wildland Firefighter’s Story
Greg Kowalski grows up in Michigan with an abusive father, a Saginaw city firefighter. Cut off from his family, Greg travels to California to become a firefighter. He is tormented by the contradiction of hatred for his father and the need to have his father’s approval and love.
Greg moves on to the brutal LACoFD helitack training academy at Camp 8 where he graduates and begins work. He suffers traumatic stress after his crew is trapped on a mountainside in an explosive wildfire and his captain and mentor dies in a burnover. The night before this incident, Greg’s father is killed in a fire in Saginaw. Greg struggles to cope with these dual tragedies.
He comes to terms with the loss of his captain, but has greater difficulty surmounting his father’s influence on his life. The title is a metaphor for the life of Greg Kowalski, a nineteen-year-old searching for his place in life.
“Kurt Kamm has been there with the firefighters, step by step, and you will feel in the pages of this book that you are right there in the middle of a fire storm as well.”
Dennis Smith
author of “Report From Engine Co. 82,” and “A Decade Of Hope”.
ONE FOOT IN THE BLACK has received two Honorable Mention literary awards READ MORE
Watch Kurt discuss RED FLAG WARNING in a Firefighter Network News interview
About the title: ONE FOOT IN THE BLACK
One Foot in the Black is a phrase used to describe a position on the fireline, which is next to an area already burned (“the black”.) It is both the most dangerous place – close to the flames, and the safest place – a zone into which escape is possible. The title is a metaphor for the life of Greg Kowalski, a nineteen year searching for safety and comfort.
WHAT READERS HAVE TO SAY-
“Kurt Kamm has gotten into the wildland fire scene in such depth that you feel he must be a fireman who has fought hundreds of these awful battles.”
“This book is enthralling, exciting, and suspenseful. All the things a great book should be are neatly packaged together here.”
“This was the fastest book I ever read… Great book, Love how it makes it real life…”
“I’m not a book reader but this book caught my eye so I read it. I thought it was a great book . I’m now reading his other book and I am just as hooked.”
“Most of the books I now read are from Christian authors and the perspectives are different. But we live in the real world as firefighters and see people at the worst of times. It was good to read non-sugar coated material. I liked the accuracy of the fire service lingo, events. One of the younger guys who saw me reading the book has already taken my copy to read. Thank you for the book!”
