Abstract
This commentary on earthquakes and fire by Stephen J. Pyne focuses in notorious episodes as Lisbon 1755, San Francisco 1906, Tokyo 1923 as urban conflagrations in a scenario of "shake, then bake". Discussing the history of earthquakes, cities and fires, he concludes that "disastrous fires let history overwhelm geography; preventative measures let geography temper history". Pyne has written over 30 books, mostly on the history and management of wildland and rural fire, including big-screen surveys for the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe (including Russia), and the world generally, and is completing a multi-volume fire history of the U.S. and its regions since 1960.
Keywords
earthquakes; urban fires; fire