HAROLD R. LARSON

With a heart forged in flames and words tempered by experience, Harold transforms his journey from battling wildfires into powerful storytelling.

As both a seasoned firefighter and author, he ignites inspiration by bringing readers into the heart of the blaze—and the wisdom found within it.

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— COMING SOON —

When Embers Fade is a masterclass in wildland firefighting, told across three relentless seasons and ten unique fires that stretch from British Columbia to Ontario. Each chapter drops the reader into a different operation, from massive campaign fires in the boreal to high-risk burnouts in the Rockies. With vivid detail and tactical clarity, the book captures what it takes to hold the line when the flames close in, offering a front-row seat to some of Canada’s most intense wildfire battles.

Written by a veteran with over twenty years of experience, this memoir offers a rare, inside look at the culture of wildland firefighting. From the brutal grind of extended deployments to the camaraderie and chaos of remote fire camps, When Embers Fade tells the story of a workforce built on grit, trust, and dark humour. These are the stories you won’t hear at press conferences, shown through the eyes of someone who lived them season after season.

At its core, When Embers Fade is also a call for change. As fires grow larger and seasons stretch longer, the people tasked with fighting them are being pushed to the edge. Through these stories, the author makes a powerful case for supporting wildland firefighters not as disposable seasonal workers, but as essential professionals. It’s a message forged in ash and sweat, delivered with urgency and heart.

— AVAILABLE NOW —

Harold R. Larson reflects on his time as a dedicated Wildland firefighter, sharing stories that capture both the challenges and triumphs of his experiences in the field. Through vivid descriptions and personal anecdotes, he provides readers with a glimpse into the intense training, camaraderie, and the urgent sense of purpose that defined his work amidst the flames and towering trees. Larson's narrative not only highlights the physical demands of fighting wildfires but also evokes the profound connection he developed with the natural world during those years.

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Having fought over 350 wildfires, spent more than 8,000 hours on the fire line, and led hundreds of firefighters on the frontlines, author Harold R. Larson is the perfect candidate to share his inside stories, physical feats, and knowledge in his memoir titled “The Wildfire Twenty.”

— Jill Rey
Thoroughly interesting and authentic first person account of life on the frontlines of wildfire fighting in Northern Alberta. The author provides an in-depth behind the scenes look into his experiences leading a 20 member wildfire crew and combines elements of action, humour and technical knowledge to keep the reader engaged throughout.

— AO
Over the course of his three books, Harold has fully immersed himself in the craft of storytelling. As a former firefighter, I can say reading "When Embers Fade" felt like I was right there on the fireline beside him.

— C. Klitbo, former Wildfire Instructor, NAIT
I observed what was the single most complex initial attack in 13 years of wildland firefighting.

— Brandon Taylor, Wildfire Ranger
[Fire in the Eucalptys] is an intimate look into one responders personal experience in the face of natural disaster.

— Sam Siddel, Thunderbird Unit Crew Supervisor
Harold’s account of Black Saturday jolted me. Thankfully, the majority of us will never have to experience what he saw that day. Reading about it was hard enough.

— Christ Klitbo, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Wildfire Instructor

Through the Smoke:
Insights from a wildfire veteran

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My Little Brother

An excerpt from the 2016 Peace River Unit Crew season — from the upcoming memoir, When Embers Fade

I’ve been lucky enough to lead some of the best wildland firefighters in the country. Some of them became lifelong friends. A few became family.

This piece comes from a day when the stakes were high and the heat was higher. We were on Division Bravo, trying to hold a critical guard on the Sweeny Creek Fire. That shift was with Farley, one of the most reliable firefighters I ever worked with. Tough as nails. Deadpan funny. The kind of guy you’d follow into a burning forest knowing there was a good chance you wouldn’t come out unscathed.

We weren’t rookies anymore. We knew the risks. But we also knew how to push right to the edge and still get the job done. This is what that looked like.

HAROLD R. LARSON

With a heart forged in flames and words tempered by experience, Harold transforms his journey from battling wildfires into powerful storytelling.

Having fought over 350 wildfires, spent more than 8,000 hours on the fire line, and led hundreds of firefighters on the frontlines, author Harold R. Larson is the perfect candidate to share his inside stories, physical feats, and knowledge in his memoir titled “The Wildfire Twenty.”

Over the course of his three books, Harold has fully immersed himself in the craft of storytelling. As a former firefighter, I can say reading "When Embers Fade" felt like I was right there on the fireline beside him.

I observed what was the single most complex initial attack in 13 years of wildland firefighting.

[Fire in the Eucalptys] is an intimate look into one responders personal experience in the face of natural disaster.

Harold’s account of Black Saturday jolted me. Thankfully, the majority of us will never have to experience what he saw that day. Reading about it was hard enough.

Through the Smoke: Insights from a wildfire veteran

Through the Smoke:
Insights from a wildfire veteran