A listener note, against the odds, uses dramatizations that are based on true events.

Some elements, including dialogue, may be invented, but everything is based on research.

Firefighter Brendan McDonough wipes the sweat off his forehead and studies a grey plume of smoke in the distance.

It's rising from a jagged line of orange flames, which are marching along a dusty,

scrub-covered ridge line about a half mile away.

It's a wildfire, and from what McDonough can tell, it now stretches for roughly two miles across the

ridge. His mouth, his parched, and he's sweating beneath his black hard hat, yellow fireproof

shirt, and thick green pants. He consults his thermometer, and he shakes his head.

Somehow, the day has gotten even hotter.

McDonough gets on his radio to call his superior officer.

Steve, it's Donut.

How's the weather?

Harder than Tabasco when asphalt. 105.

I believe in any spawn fires.

McDonough shades his eyes and scans the ridge. He's standing on a granite knoll with the fire

burning off to his right. A half mile to his left is his firefighting crew, the granite mountain

hot shots. They're sitting on some boulders resting after several hours of hard work.

They spent the afternoon clearing out juniper trees and scrub oak brush along the ridge,

trying to create what's called a fire break, a gap in vegetation, to keep the fire contained.

McDonough is acting as a lookout to make sure any embers drifting on the wind don't start a new

fire and threaten his crew. Over the radio, McDonough assures Steve that everything's fine,

but he keeps studying the landscape. Suddenly, a huge gust of wind nearly knocks him off his feet.

...