Between Forest and Sky: A Fire-Tower Journal

Alice Kidd is an editor with The New Catalyst editorial collective in
Lillooet, B.C.

Now that the majority of the world’s people live in urban areas, the
experience of living by the weather and the seasons, in relative
isolation, is quite rare. There is a logic to it, and a beauty in its
patterns. Stratton’s fire-tower journal captures both aspects as she
describes four summers of watching for fire in the wilds of Alberta.

There is the fire watcher: a weather reporter, a skilled assessor of
“smokes,” and a member of a radio communication culture. She spends
long days in the tower when the fire risk is high. The weather can range
from bright sun to snowstorms, and everything in between.

There is the naturalist: species identifier, gardener, wild crafter. A
small garden supplements her diet, and she grazes the neighbourhood for
berries and herbs. She and her dogs share the space with wildlife and
visiting humans, sometimes with hilarious effect. Engaged with the life
of the forest, she tells the time of day or year by bird song and insect
bites—honouring the ecosystem as a participant–observer.

There is the handy-person: maintaining buildings and equipment, working
with specialists and helicopter pilots, designing improvements.
Self-sufficient in personal projects (crafts, gardening, cooking, and
building), she also rises to the unexpected—a belated discovery that
she has no propane for heat or cooking.

And there is the writer. We learn of the fire protection system in
Alberta; public use of public lands; the contrast between rural and
urban life; and the differences between complete isolation and solitude,
the relative isolation of a fire-tower, and community life. She
addresses wildlife and human encounters with grace and humility,
expressing her opinions but not forcing them on others.

Stratton’s writing is fluid and clear, augmented by sidebars on
weather and species lists. The black-and-white photos are well placed,
supporting the vibrant images in the text. This book was a pleasure to
read.