“I wrote this book because so many people asked me to tell the real story of the fire. In 2002, we woke the dragon and he fed on the Arizona forests. This story must be told, because it’s only a matter of time before the dragon stirs again.” --Jim Paxon

In “The Monster Reared His Ugly Head” Jim Paxon recounts with incredible detail the operation to slay one of Mother Nature’s mightiest dragons, the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire of northern Arizona. From the ignition to the massive evacuation of the mountain town Show Low, Jim weaves together human stories with operation facts that not only captivate the reader, but educate them on the intricacies of fighting this dramatic fire.

Through this battle to save Arizona forests, mountain communities, homes and lives, Jim Paxon, then the U.S. Forest Service’s Lead Information Officer on the operation, stood as the face and voice of the fire. His knowledgeable, straight-talk quickly established him as an expert in wildland fires.

The book includes 290 riveting photographs. More than two-thirds of these were taken by firefighters as they grappled the monster.

“The Monster Reared His Ugly Head” not only tells the Rodeo-Chediski story, but provides insight into Mother Nature, her reliance on fire as a tool and on man’s attempts to control the natural progression of fire.

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