I am going to let you in on a little secret that very few people know about me and that is I am deathly afraid of fire. I prefer colder weather to warmer weather. If I had to choose between being in a sweater at 45° or being in a bathing suit at 95° I would choose what is called “sweater-weather.” I have an inordinate fear of fire and heat.

My mother thinks it may be because when I was just a six-month-old baby she accidently spilled hot coffee all over my stomach. She says that is the only time she heard me curse, but frankly, I don’t remember it. We also know that for some reason, what we fear also fascinates us.

I was fascinated to learn that the largest wildfire in recorded history is known as the “Great Fire of 1910” which is also referred to as “The Big Blow-Up” or “The Big Burn.” …