Note: Starting in January 2025, we began publishing long-form book reviews written by GFPL staffers. The books are all available to check out at the Library, or from one of our Partner Libraries. We post a new review each month! Come back next month to find the next review.

‘Burned Over!’ is a well-written, relevant nonfiction title about firefighting

Review by Tina, Library Specialist
Book by A.J. Otjen

Burnover occurs when a fire overruns firefighting personnel, their equipment, or location, leaving no egress to safety zones or escape routes. Burnovers often result in damaged equipment and injured or fatally wounded personnel.

Even with today’s emergency gear, the survival rate is significantly less than 50%. Fire shelters offer protection, but it’s difficult to deploy them in time. Burned Over! The Survival of Montana Firefighter Dan Steffensen, by A.J. Otjen, is about this type of fire entrapment.

June 13th through August 21st, 2021 became known as “The Summer of Hell” in Red Lodge, Montana, due to tragedies that took place in the area, including several wildfires. The dry conditions and high winds kept the Red Lodge firefighters busy, working to squelch each blaze as it popped up. Dan Steffensen was an important part of the team and its efforts.

“Tough” is a word used to describe Dan. He endured losing his beloved life partner, Marney, in 2020, and struggled to find his footing during the summer of 2021. Thankfully, having joined the Red Lodge Fire Rescue in 2016, Dan had the network of support and purpose in life that he needed during that summer. During that time Dan also experienced a burnover. Due to his toughness, the support of the many people who loved him, dedicated healthcare professionals who came into his life, deep soul-searching, and many miracles, Dan made it out of his burnover alive.

When Dan joined the fire department, he accepted and embraced Standard Firefighting Order #10. In a nutshell, Order #10 instructs firefighters to achieve safety for all, first. Then, to aggressively combat fire. Dan dedicated himself to mastering all aspects of his career. He became proficient with the gear, studied fire behavior, and purchased the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE.) Dan spent hours training, honing his skills and accepting nothing less than perfection from himself. As a result, he became an integral part of Red Lodge Fire Rescue, achieving the position of engine boss, and shouldering the responsibility of mentoring and coaching new recruits.

July 16, 2021 began as a smoky day, due to fires that were burning in the area. Dan was chafing at having to spend another day working around the firehouse, feeling the calling to be out in the field, working with his fellow firefighters. Finally, a call went out, sent by the Joliet fire chief, for help to put down a fire that had reignited near Joliet. Dan and his trainee partner, Scott, answered. They arrived with the first group of engines at 3:38pm.

The manageable fire quickly changed and, 37 minutes later, Dan and Scott experienced a burnover. Scott weathered
it in the cab of the engine. Dan endured the fire entrapment against the side of E78, lacking time to get back into the truck.
A harrowing journey followed for Dan. He received 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 60% of his body, and was placed in a medically induced coma for 24 days while he fought for his life.

The road to recovery followed, with Dan’s resolve to live sometimes hanging by a thread. He endured 18 surgeries and, through many miracles, Dan fought to live and recover.

Two months later, on September 21st, Dan was able to leave the University of Utah Health Burn Center. His family and the people of Red Lodge welcomed Dan home and played an active role in his healing. Dan has moved on with his life and is still able to be a fireman. He has also learned how important he is to his family and to his community. Those relationships are the
sweetest of all.

Burned Over! The Survival of Montana Firefighter Dan Steffensen, written by A.J. Otjen, is a well-written book, with relevance to all Montanans and Americans. I highly recommend this work to anyone striving for a better understanding of rural firefighting communities and their deep relationships with each other, as well as the people they seek to protect.