Disasters both natural and accidental have marked the Northwest. More than just curiosities, these stories chronicle events and personal experiences of people who have faced tragedy and loss with courage and an indomitable spirit. Sometimes sad and often inspiring, our stories are always worth knowing about: * It's hard to imagine how a bucket of glue could bring down an entire city, but in 1889, Seattle's bustling business district ground to a blazing halt * Harry Truman, owner of Spirit Lake Lodge in Washington, might have had just enough time to turn around and see the eruption of Mount St. Helens before the hot ash buried both him and his lodge * In 1959, you could park a cargo truck packed with 6.5 tons of explosive materials on a city street and not get so much as a ticket, even if it blew up, as the citizens of Roseburg, Oregon, can testify * In 1949, when Lowell Elementary School in Tacoma shook from a magnitude 7.1 earthquake, an 11-year-old boy saved another child and gave up his own life * The largest mine disaster in Idaho's history killed 91 miners when a fire broke out in the Sunshine Mine in May 1972 * And so many more incredible, important and true Disasters of the Northwest.

LISA WOJNA has worked in the community newspaper industry as a writer and journalist and has travelled all over Canada, from the windy prairies of Manitoba to northern British Columbia, and even to the wilds of Africa. Although writing and photography have been a central part of her life for as long as she can remember, it's the people behind every story that are her motivation and give her the most fulfillment.

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Bestselling author Lisa Wojna has authored or co-authored more than 20 books for Blue Bike Books, including Weird Canadian Laws and the Bathroom Book of Canadian Quotes. She has also written many other non-fiction books. Having worked in the community newspaper industry as a writer and journalist, she has traveled all over Canada from the windy prairies of Manitoba to northern British Columbia and even to the wilds of Africa. Although writing and photography have been a central part of her life for as long as she can remember, it’s the people behind every story that are her motivation and give her the most fulfillment.

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