The Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council, along with multiple supporting partners, is hosting a community conversation about wildfire with the author of the book “Fire Weather: On the Front Lines of a Burning World.”

Author John Vaillant will discuss his 2023 nonfiction book “Fire Weather” about the Alberta Sands fire in May 2016 that was fueled by an overheated atmosphere, dry forest and petroleum products and consumed the town of Fort McMurray in the heart of Canada’s oil industry.

The event is scheduled for 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 30 at Bud Werner Memorial Library Hall in Steamboat Springs.

The multi-billion-dollar disaster melted vehicles, turned neighborhoods into fire bombs and drove 88,000 people from their homes in one afternoon in a wildfire equivalent of Hurricane Katrina, according to book promotions. The author warns this was not a unique event but a shocking preview of what people must prepare for in a hotter, more flammable world.

Prior to the talk, the community is invited to the release of the “Smokey the Beer” special brew at Mountain Tap Brewery, 910 Yampa St. in Steamboat. Smokey the Beer was concocted by aging Chasing Sunset Golden Ale on charred oak that was blazed in Mountain Tap’s wood-fired oven resulting in a subtle smoky flavor and aroma.