In the summer of 1970, the Wenatchee National Forest saw a wildfire that took twenty days and 8,550 firefighters to best. By the end animals, trees, and underbrush were decimated in ways that would take years to recover.

The fight to save the wilderness from burning and the fire from spreading is seen in 1971's Wildfire.

The dangers of sudden fire jumps, isolated mountain roads which fire can block in mere minutes, and the firefighters battling smoke and flame add urgency to the fight against one of nature’s most destructive forces.