Inferno in the Lost Pines

Title: Inferno in the Lost Pines
Author: Katrina Hoover
Major Themes: Disasters, Fire, Forest Fire, Texas
Synopsis: A disastrous forest fire in Bastrop, Texas is described through the eyes of the people who live in the area.

I have been looking at Inferno in the Lost Pines for a long time, thinking I’d like to read it. Finally, while visiting my sister, I had the chance. I was not disappointed; this was quite an interesting book. Katrina Hoover tells a true story in quite an exciting way.

The summer of 2011 was very hot and dry in Bastrop, Texas, the third year of a drought. People were quite concerned about fire, and no fires were allowed. However, the afternoon of September 4, the day before Labor Day, an electric wire snapped when the high wind blew a tree over…and started a fire. The wind fanned the sparks into a flame, which shot up into the pine trees, already dry and hot from the weather, and before anyone could do anything about it the county was ablaze.

Katrina tells the story by describing ten families who lived along one road and four families who lived along another road. She tells the background of each family, as well as describing their homes and belongings, both before and after the fire. One family, in particular, stood out to me; the wife of the family had been heavily involved in the occult before God got hold of her and changed her life. How would Debra respond to the fire, especially if she would lose her precious “home that God built?”

The progress of the fire is incredible to read about. I learned things I never knew before about forest fires, which was fascinating to me. Of course, the human side of the story was gripping, too, as people had to make decisions whether to stay and try to fight the fire and save their home and belongings, or flee to save their lives. And what about the animals? How could people save them—one couple had 80 cats!

Anyone who is interested in natural disasters and the effect on people will enjoy this book. One thing that made it especially interesting to me was the location; only a few weeks ago we were with friends who live in Bastrop. Knowing someone from a place always makes a story set in that place more interesting.

No warnings!