Eric Linenger's job, as a National Park Service ranger, isn't always easy. He is tasked to oversee a "prescribed burn" of a thousand acres in Rocky Mountain National Park, which not only means containing the fire to the necessary acreage, but also protecting the precious habitats of the local birds. However, once the fire is ablaze, the delinquent flames spread wildly out of control, and Eric's boss, Wayne Devlin, is found dead near the fire's origin. Eric takes it upon himself to investigate an increasingly perplexing arsonist mystery, and uncovers the disturbing truth that many people, including his own friends, had the motivation to ensure the deadly fire would rage unchecked.