Catching Fire: The Story of Firefighting - Softcover

Gorrell, Gena K.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0887764304 ISBN 13: 9780887764301

Publisher: Tundra Books, 1999

Synopsis

An entertaining and informative look at firefighting, from the equipment to the techniques, both in history and today. Enhanced with black and white photos, anecdotes from firefighters, and fire prevention and safety tips.

About this title

About the Author

Gena K. Gorrell is an editor and author living in Toronto. Her works of non-fiction include North Star to Freedom: The Story of the Underground Railroad. She is a member of the auxiliary police and an expert diver.

From the Back Cover

“Lively and informative, this is an excellent addition to nonfiction collections.”
–School Library Journal

“[T]he trove of useful data on current firefighting techniques and gadgetry…will be happily plundered by young report writers and would-be firefighters.”
–The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Cathching Fire is likely to become a well-thumbed volume to which the reader returns repeatedly. It is superbly organized…Thoroughly and meticulously researched, the book provides a compendium of information about fire itself and the role of firefighters.”
–Canadian Children’s Literature

“Catching Fire covers a lot of ground, from ancient fire worship to how modern technology can be used to catch arsonists. The 10 chapters clearly explain what fire is, how it works and how it can be defeated once it gets out of control.”
–Quill & Quire

From the Inside Flap

ing and informative look at firefighting, from the equipment to the techniques, both in history and today. Enhanced with black and white photos, anecdotes from firefighters, and fire prevention and safety tips.

Reviews

Grade 7-10A thorough introduction to the topic, from the bucket brigades of olden times to the state-of-the-art equipment used today. The author has included a wealth of related information that will be of interest to general readers as well as to students doing research. She presents the science behind how a fire burns, provides short descriptions of important blazes in history, discusses how equipment has changed, and explains the tactics used by modern firefighters to control and extinguish flames. She also covers wildfires; arson; fires on ships, airplanes, and subways; fire safety; and the varied skills and roles of current-day firefighters, including cleaning up spills and search and rescue. These chapters add significantly to the breadth and depth of the book. Numerous black-and-white illustrations, ranging from reproductions depicting equipment and blazes from the past to action photos of contemporary firefighters at work, appear throughout. Lively and informative, this is an excellent addition to nonfiction collections.William C. Schadt, Glacier Park Middle School, Maple Valley, WA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The topic of fire fighting usually inspires books for young children, but Gorrell has researched and written quite a good, readable book for older ones. Beginning with fire fighting through history, the discussion turns to modern techniques, equipment, and the rescue function of fire fighting teams as well as special circumstances such as fires in forests and on ships, planes, subways. The book closes with an informative chapter on how to prevent fires and what to do when there is a fire. Full of pertinent information and intriguing anecdotes, the book will answer many questions about fire fighting, past and present. To be illustrated, mainly with photographs. Carolyn Phelan

Edition details

• Publisher: Tundra Books
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0887764304
• ISBN 13: 9780887764301
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160