Underneath Montana Skies (Mann Gulch Fire) by Black Irish Band

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"Underneath Montana Skies" was based on the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire'. Band member, (retired firefighter), Patrick M. Karnahan, wrote the song in 1996. He heard about the story in his basic- 32 fire training class, taught by the Forest Service."Underneath Montana Skies" was based on the Mann Gulch Fire near Helena Montana in 1949.

It should be noted that in the song that the songwriter treated all 13 firefighters, that were lost in the fire, as smoke-jumpers. In truth one firefighter, Harrison, was a forest guard. He was once however a smoke-jumper. The song first appeared on the bands "Hooligans United" CD, and was released in 1996.

In 1997 a friend gave the songwriter a copy of Norman Maclean's book "Young Men & Fire". ------"I found it very interesting at the time and I also heard about James Keelaghan's great song "Cold Missouri Waters". Our stories are however from two different points of view. Mine is a general view of the fire as known to me as a firefighter. Keelaghan's story is based on Wag Dodge and the book, "Young Men & Fire"-(Patrick Michael Karnahan)

Both songs are on the Black Irish Bands 2007 release featuring, Michael Martin Murphey titled, "Into the Fire". The Cd can be found on CD Baby http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/blackirishband7

Patrick Michael Karnahan is a songwriter and wildland firefighter with 20 seasons with the United States Forest Service.