The city of Portland, Maine, has an extraordinary history as a prominent seaport dating back to early colonial times. Few realize how heavily intertwined this history is with fire and firefighting. The motto of the city, Resurgam, is Latin for "I will rise again." The city symbol has long included the phoenix, a mythological bird that is said to arise from the ashes of its predecessor. With over 20 major conflagrations and four different fires that destroyed the majority of the city, both the symbol and the motto directly reference Portland's perseverance despite catastrophic fire. As the Portland Fire Department celebrates the 250th anniversary of the inception of organized fire protection on March 29, 1768, Portland Firefighting takes the reader on a photographic tour encompassing not only the department's history but also the development of firefighting through the centuries.

Firefighting in Portland boasts many proud traditions and a long and storied history. In 1851, Col. Thomas Dryer, editor of the Oregonian newspaper, decided that it was in the best interest of the city to establish a firefighting force, and with that, he founded the Pioneer Fire Engine Company No. 1. Little better than a bucket brigade, this volunteer force of 37 men wearing red shirts started operations with just a single hand pump. From these humble beginnings, the organization grew to keep pace with a burgeoning city. From the great fire of 1873 and the colorful era of horse-drawn apparatus to technological innovations and community involvement, Portland Fire & Rescueas the department is now knownhas valiantly protected lives and property in Portland for more than a century and a half.

On the Fourth of July in 1866, joy turned to tragedy in Portland, Maine. A boy threw a firecracker onto a pile of wood shavings and it erupted in a blaze as residents prepared to celebrate the 110th anniversary of American independence in the momentous time following the Civil War. The violent conflagration killed two people and destroyed all structures on nearly thirty streets. Authors Michael Daicy and Don Whitney, both firefighters, chronicle the day's catastrophic events, as well as the bravery of those who fought the ferocious fire, dispelling the myth that ill-trained firefighting contributed to the devastation.

Slow Burn had its impetus in a one-paragraph, 1903 news article, reporting that the city council had voted to plank or gravel Powell Blvd and Milwaukie Ave. after being warned by the Fire Insurance Underwriter’s Board that the city’s continued failure to make the two roads passable during wet weather would result in all structures in that area being uninsurable. This organization’s impact in this instance triggered the author’s research into both the firefighters’ working conditions and the Underwriter’s Board. Slow Burn’s release, on June 26, 2018, marked the 105th David Campbell memorial service at Portland’s Firefighters’ Memorial Park on Portland’s West Burnside. Campbell, Portland’s most beloved fire chief, was killed in 1911 during a Standard Oil tank fire on the city’s east side. He was the first to enter the building, intent on insuring it was safe for his firefighter crew to enter. This seventh book in the award-winning Sage Adair historical mystery series features Campbell and the firefighters he died to protect. Interwoven within this tale of courage and sacrifice is the equally compelling story of how Portland’s black community addressed the growing racism of the nation’s post-reconstruction era. Ordered to a mysterious late night meeting Sage Adair is suddenly thrust onto firefighting’s front lines and into the lives of Portland’s firefighters. Concerned by the reality of early 1900's firefighting, Sage is soon hunting the arsonist who is burning down the city and framing innocent men for his crimes. Relying on original source material, contemporary news reports and firsthand accounts, this is an accurate portrayal of the lives of Portland’s firefighters at the turn of the 20th century as well as a depiction of the black community’s resilience in the face of that era’s rising racism.