Dolan's Original Songs

Wildfire

"Wildfire," perhaps more than any other song, epitomizes what Dolan Ellis' "balladeership" has been all about.

On June 18, 2002, a forest fire, known as the "Rodeo," ignited about 100 miles northeast of Phoenix, within the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and near the rodeo grounds there.  Conditions were extremely dry, even for that dry time of the year, a couple of weeks before the summer monsoon season normally begins.  About two days later, with the Rodeo fire still raging and spreading rapidly, the "Chediski" fire began just a few miles to the east.  By the weekend of June 22 and 23, the two fires had merged and become the "Rodeo-Chediski" fire.  The photograph at left, taken by Forest Lakes resident Jeannie Van Lew, shows a smoke plume from the Chediski fire seen looking down Rim Loop on Thursday, June 20, 2005.  A larger view of this photograph and others can be seen on the Forest Lakes Owners Association Web site, in a section that documents the Rodeo-Chediski Fire.

Play the song's opening verse

Less than 3 months earlier, during the first week of March 2002, another forest fire had threatened to move north from Carr Canyon to Ramsey Canyon.  Dolan's home and the Arizona Folklore Preserve were in danger, so much so that residents had been warned they might have to evacuate, and only residents were allowed to enter the canyon.  An intensive effort on the part of the wildfire fighters saved Ramsey Canyon and its important wildlife and plant life.

After such a close call for his own home, Dolan's compassion for the Rodeo-Chediski victims and his gratitude for wildfire fighters was even greater than it otherwise would have been..  On top of that, he had once owned a small ranch on the Mogollon Rim, and that home, as well as homes of many of his friends, was in danger (Dolan's ranch, Freedom, did not burn).

The Aftermath: Bison Ranch Photo courtesy of Forest Lakes Resident Jeff Williams

As many personal reasons as Dolan had for writing a song about the Rodeo-Chediski fire, it was his responsibility as Balladeer, a trust placed in him by nine governors by that time, that motivated him even more..  Something terrible was happening in his state, and he had to see and feel it close at hand.  He packed his Jeep with camping equipment and headed out early Thursday morning, June 27.  He drove all the way to the edge of the burn area, where authorities stopped him.  As Dolan tells the story, he told them he's Arizona's Official State Balladeer and he just had to get to the burn area.  They didn't sympathize with him, so he did what any self-respecting folk singer would do—he went to the nearest dark bar, in Payson.  There, he and several of the locals sat and watched television in dismay as the fire continued to rage.  The drive, the nearness to the fire, the television news, the emotions of the Payson residents, and Dolan's admiration for the brave wildfire fighters—all of these thoughts went into the rapidly emerging song.

The National Forest Service had a wonderful information officer who presented regular press conferences, Jim Paxon.  Paxon's appearances on TV became part of the folklore of the Rodeo-Chediski Fire. 

Dolan included the fire's statistics in the song, including "500,000" acres burned.  The final figure was so close to half a million that you could say he didn't exaggerate. 

Play the song's conclusion, a tribute to Paxon and the wildfire fighters

After a night's sleep, Dolan completed the song on Friday morning, and headed back to his Ramsey Canyon home.  He stopped in Phoenix to make a quick recording, and on Friday evening made the final recording of the song, ready for people to purchase that weekend.  It was a single song on a colorful CD, offered for a $10 donation.  The CD is still offered for sale on this Web site, at the Arizona Folklore Preserve, and at Dolan's gigs.

Dolan has a special bank account called "CDs for New Trees," where 100% of the money collected for Wildfire goes.  The amount collected to date exceeds $6,000, and Dolan plans to make the donation, most likely to the U.S. Forest Service, when the total is $10,000. 

Oregon has its Big Foot, and Arizona has its "Mogollon Monster."  Years ago, Dolan took that monster and wrote a song by the same title, and used him in a successful campaign against littering, especially in the wildnerness areas of Arizona.  The Mogollon Monster worked his way into Dolan's "Wildfire" song, as a perfect analogy to the raging fire. 

Listen to the "Mogollon Monster" verse

Dolan was in Payson the Monday evening after writing this song, working with friends Marshall Trimble and Buckshot Dot (Dee Strickland Johnson) at a benefit for the fire victims.   His next major concert (other than those at the AFP) was at a large park in Show Low.  He had sung about that very park in the opening verse to the song.

Listen to the Show Low Park verse

If tears in listeners' eyes are an indication of the effectiveness of a song, then Wildfire is one of the greatest. 

A powerful song in response to one devastating fire...

And symbolic of all forest fires...

A reminder of the potential consequences of just one careless (or criminal) act...

Back to the Original Songs Page      A Rodeo-Chediski History with Photos    Purchase Wildfire on CD