Trapped inside an old mine tunnel near Wallace, Idaho, more than forty firefighters face a terrifying question: Has their refuge become their tomb? Outside, the Great Fire of 1910 roars through the mountains. Inside, smoke, heat, and fear threaten to overwhelm them. Ranger Ed Pulaski must hold his men together while fighting to keep the tunnel entrance from burning.

In Part 2 of “When the Mountains Roared,” we follow that desperate night through Pulaski’s own recollections, including his famous revolver warning and the exhausting struggle to survive until morning. Meanwhile, Wallace burns, families flee aboard evacuation trains, and railroad crews help carry frightened residents toward safety.

Morning brings survival, heartbreaking losses, and a painful journey home. For Pulaski, reaching town is only part of the ordeal: injured and temporarily unable to see, he still needs to find his wife and daughter.

We also consider the fire’s lasting effects on forest management, the tool that carries Pulaski’s name, and the human cost behind a legendary rescue.

With moments of humor, history, and faith, this episode honors those who served and those who died—and reflects on the enduring importance of bearing one another’s burdens when the road home becomes too difficult to walk alone.

Sources and further reading

1. E. C. Pulaski, “Surrounded by Forest Fires: My Most Exciting Experience as a Forest Ranger,” American Forestry, August 1923, pp. 485–486. First-person retrospective account; public-domain original. https://foresthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Surrounded-by-Forest-Firest-By-E.C.-Pulaski.pdf
2. Elers Koch, “History of the 1910 Forest Fires—Idaho & Western Montana,” reproduced in the Forest Service's When the Mountains Roared: Stories of the 1910 Fire (1978). https://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/idaho-panhandle/r1-78-30/sec1.htm
3. Forest History Society, “The 1910 Fires.” Regional totals, other participants, and the complicated policy legacy. https://foresthistory.org/research-explore/us-forest-service-history/policy-and-law/fire-u-s-forest-service/famous-fires/the-1910-fires/
4. Joe B. Halm, “The Big Fire,” reproduced in When the Mountains Roared. https://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/idaho-panhandle/r1-78-30/sec2.htm
5. Smithsonian, “Timothy Egan on The Big Burn,” September 16, 2009; author interview describing the book's larger scope. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/timothy-egan-on-the-big-burn-141529464/
6. U.S. Forest Service, “The True Story of the Pulaski Fire Tool,” Fire Management Notes 47, no. 3 (1986). Historical discussion of the tool's antecedents and development; see also the Forest History Society overview in source 3.

A campfire warms your hands. But what happens when the whole mountain catches fire?

In August 1910, the people of Wallace, Idaho, were about to discover the terrifying answer. Their bustling mining town of three thousand residents sat among forested slopes that had become dangerously dry. Smoke filled the skies, firefighters struggled in the hills, and everyone hoped the worst would pass them by.

Then the wind arrived.

In Part 1 of “When the Mountains Roared,” we step into the summer that became the Big Burn, following forest ranger Ed Pulaski as a battle to protect the woods becomes a desperate struggle to save lives. With more than forty men depending on him, Pulaski must draw on his knowledge of the mountains when fire cuts off their escape toward Wallace.

Somewhere ahead lies an old mine tunnel. But can they reach it? And will going underground offer safety—or something far worse?

Join Ted for a Northwest campfire story filled with courage, mounting suspense, a little humor, and a thoughtful look at trust when the path ahead disappears.

Pull your chair closer, pour some coffee, and discover why this chapter of North Idaho history still commands our attention more than a century later.

Sources for editing

1. Elers Koch, When the Mountains Roared: Stories of the 1910 Fire, USDA Forest Service historical account, especially “Wallace burns” and “Pulaski's Crew—Placer Creek,” the latter reproducing Supervisor W. G. Weigle's June 24, 1911 report. https://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/idaho-panhandle/r1-78-30/sec1.htm
2. Forest History Society, “The 1910 Fires,” regional context and Pulaski overview. https://foresthistory.org/research-explore/us-forest-service-history/policy-and-law/fire-u-s-forest-service/famous-fires/the-1910-fires/
3. USDA Forest Service, “The Great Fire of 1910,” regional extent and August 20–21 chronology. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5444731.pdf
4. USDA Forest Service, “2013 Script for the 1910 Fire,” Pulaski household and historical overview. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5444735.pdf
5. University of Idaho Library, Big Burn Collection, “Emma (Mrs. Edward C.) Pulaski and Child.” https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/bigburn/items/bigburn60.html

When did having fun become a test we have to pass?

In this Morning Brew, Ted reflects on tennis, sky-high expectations, and the frustration of knowing you can play better—even when you’ve made it to the championship.

With humor and honesty, he explores how the pressure to perform can squeeze the enjoyment out of something we love. Whether you struggle on the tennis court, in the workshop, or with everyday mistakes, this conversation offers a reminder about patience, perspective, and grace.

Winning matters, but so does enjoying the game—and learning to forgive the imperfect person holding the racket.

Gold fever brought fortune seekers into North Idaho’s mountains, but one unforgettable woman left a legacy measured in something besides gold. Meet Maggie Hall, better known as Molly B’Damn, a frontier madam whose colorful reputation shared space with remarkable generosity.

In this episode of Almost Paradise in North Idaho, Ted takes listeners back to the rough mining communities of the 1880s, where dreams were enormous, comforts were scarce, and a good story could grow faster than a prospector’s bank account. Along the way, we explore competing explanations for Molly’s nickname, the famous legend of her rescue of a mother and child in a snowstorm, and accounts of her kindness toward hungry, homeless, and sick neighbors.

With humor, whimsical observations, and a careful distinction between history and folklore, this story introduces a complicated woman who deserves more than a convenient label. Molly’s life included controversy, hardship, and choices we need not romanticize. Yet her community remembered her compassion.

The episode closes with a Christian reflection inspired by the Good Samaritan: Who do we overlook, how quickly do we judge, and what happens when we stop waiting for somebody else to help? Sometimes an unlikely neighbor gives us a timely lesson in mercy.

Six years after prostate cancer treatment, Ted revisits Episode 16 of Almost Paradise in North Idaho, sharing a deeply personal conversation with Joy.

Together, they reflect on their experience with diagnosis, treatment, and the uncertainty that comes with facing cancer. This repodcast features improved audio, a new introduction, and an encouraging update.

Today, he continues enjoying tennis, winter pickleball, weekly bowling, chores, and time with friends and family.

With humor, gratitude, and faith, Ted celebrates ordinary days and the people who helped him through difficult ones.

He also reminds listeners that this is their personal experience, not medical advice. Treatments evolve, and individual concerns belong in a conversation with a doctor.

It’s an honest, hopeful look at life after cancer—and finding plenty of reasons to keep smiling, here in North Idaho.

Should Christians vote—or does faith call them to stay out of politics? Ted welcomes Harold and their Chris Clark to the front porch for an hour-long conversation about Scripture, conscience, and the responsibilities of citizenship.

Some Christians point to Jesus’ statement that his kingdom is not of this world and Paul’s reminder that our citizenship is in heaven. Others see voting as an opportunity to love their neighbors, seek their community’s welfare, and speak up for vulnerable people. The Bible offers principles for both arguments, but no explicit command to cast—or refuse to cast—a ballot.

The conversation also considers what happens after Election Day. Can Christians accept an election’s outcome under God’s sovereignty while disagreeing with the winner’s decisions? Does accepting the result mean approving everything a leader does? And if someone chooses not to vote, does that person still have a right—or a responsibility—to speak out afterward?

This edition of Almost Paradise in North Idaho explores questions that reach beyond candidates and parties: Where do Christians place their ultimate hope? How should conviction and conscience shape public life? Pull up a chair for a thoughtful Front Porch Conversation about faith, government, and living alongside people who reach different conclusions.

When did being busy become a badge of honor—and sitting down require a defense attorney?

In this Morning Brew, Ted takes a humorous look at overflowing calendars, retirement without rest, and projects that somehow create three more projects.

Beneath the laughter is a question: Are we giving our time to what matters most? From neglected friendships to the struggle to say no, this episode encourages listeners to make room for people, prayer, and simple pleasures.

Drawing on Jesus’ invitation to rest, Ted reminds us that a full calendar doesn’t always mean a full life.

Pour some coffee and pause.

Bootlegging wasn’t just a big-city business. In Part 2, we follow the whiskey trail into North Idaho, where Canadian liquor, border roads, and thirsty customers made Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint busy crossroads of Prohibition.

Discover a cigar store caught with Canadian whiskey, a bootlegger carrying bottles in a blanket, and a sheriff whose whiskey dealings betrayed the public’s trust. We also explore Sandpoint’s hidden underground spaces, separating documented history from colorful local legend.

Then we head for the racetrack, tracing how moonshine runners, skilled mechanics, and daring drivers helped lay the groundwork for NASCAR. Along the way, Smokey and the Bandit provides a familiar connection to our region’s love of loud engines and fast cars.

Beneath the adventure lies a deeper question: What happens when talent serves temptation? This episode considers consequences, compromised trust, and the hope faith offers through repentance, forgiveness, and the courage to choose a better road.