Bill Matthias, EdS '85, is the author of "Monster Fire at Minong: Wisconsin's Five Mile Tower Fire of 1977" just released by the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Bill spent three years researching and writing the book about the fire that burned 14,000 acres just 40 miles south of Superior in the towns of Chicog, Minong, Wascott and Gordon. More than 1,600 people fought on the fire.

Bill was superintendent of Northwood School District when the fire broke out and fought the fire himself for more than 50 hours. High school students, college students, citizens, nine volunteer fire departments, and the DNR battled the flames.

In his book, Bill also shows how Wisconsin fights forest fires in the 21st Century.