Fire at My Feet

About the Book

When seventeen-year-old Clay Dickerson joined a crew on a fire patrol rig north of Grants Pass, Oregon, in June of 1962, he could not know that this first job would lead to an almost forty-year career in forestry. In Fire At My Feet, he shares the story of his life and the role his job played during those years. This memoir chronicles his journey where his duties and responsibilities increased while he matured into manhood. Dickerson tells how after earning a college degree, he became a professional forester in Oregon. He narrates a host of stories about the unusual, exciting, and sometimes dangerous situations he faced throughout his tenure. Dickerson discusses how his long career involved comprehensive and balanced forest management activities, including work on wildland fires in various on-the-line and overhead capacities throughout Oregon, as well as in northern California and eastern Washington. With photos included, Fire At My Feet offers unique insight into one man’s adventures in the woods of Oregon as a forest firefighter.

About the Author

Clay Dickerson grew up on a small farm in Southwestern Oregon. After earning a college degree, he worked as a professional forester. His last position was as a forest management unit forester in the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District, from which he retired in 1999. A father and grandfather, his active retirement includes raising cattle, playing and coaching team sports, volunteer opportunities, teaching children and adults about forestry, and occasional consultation roles.