Catching Fire: The Story of Firefighting

Deborah Dowson is a Canaadian children’s librarian in North Wales,
Pennsylvania.

This educational resource provides a comprehensive overview of all
facets of firefighting. The book begins by offering a sense of the most
primitive human interaction with fire, followed by a description of the
anatomy of fire. Subsequent chapters cover the history of firefighting
and the most recent methods of fire prevention, detection,
investigation, and control. Specific chapters focus on firefighting
techniques for different situations such as wild fires, fires on
transportation vehicles, and on the special role that firefighters play
in search-and-rescue operations. The topic of fire safety is also
addressed.

The reader is presented with a broad scope of information that is
logically arranged so as not to be cumbersome or overwhelming. Any
difficult or unusual terminology is defined and explained in the text.
The reader is often challenged to reflect on the ideas that are
described.

The text is supported and enhanced by the addition of well-chosen
photographs and illustrations. The author makes use of catchy text
insets that offer fascinating facts, anecdotes of personal interest, or
quick summaries of information. His informative and entertaining book is
highly recommended as an educational resource for the elementary-level
student.