In October 2007 the worst firestorm in San Diego history claimed 11 lives and injured dozens of people. The world watched as 7 fires spread throughout the county fueled by fierce, Santa Ana winds. Those gusts are referred to as "The Devil's Breath." 100 Mile an hour gusts hurled flames and ash in every direction, consuming everything in its path.

Seven of the victims who died in the Harris Fire, were undocumented people from different parts of Mexico, including three women, who were making a dangerous and illegal trek through the rugged mountains of San Diego's east county when they suddenly became trapped in the storm's path.

The Devil's Breath brings the victims’ stories to life through interviews with their traveling companions, the health care providers who treated them, the family members they left behind, visits to the sites where they perished, and audio of one survivor’s frantic 9-1-1 calls for help.

It also addresses some of the issues that have emerged from this tragedy, including the emergency response to the border crossers’ pleas for help, the language barriers they encountered, delays in recovering and identifying the bodies found in San Diego’s backcountry, and the cost of medical treatment for the uninsured victims. Representatives from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Binational Emergency Medical Committee are featured throughout the program.

A song, entitled “Te llevo En Mi Corazon” was especially written for this documentary by composer/vocalist, Joaquin McWhinney of Big Mountain.