Putting Out Fires: Firefighters

Fire is simultaneously humanity's best friend and our most ruthless enemy. Fire warms and comforts, enables us to cook food, and powers much of our industry. But it can also be a raging killer. Once out of control, it destroys homes, lives, and lays waste to vast areas of land. Firefighters have a long history of courage and sacrifice in overcoming flames to safeguard their communities. The New York City firefighters, who risked and lost their lives fighting the fires at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, were some of the more recent additions to a long line of firefighting heroes. Putting Out Fires examines the lives of firefighters, the training they undergo, and the hardships they endure while fighting fires. Learn about the special dangers of wildfires and aircraft fires and what the future of firefighting looks like. This book offers a comprehensive look at the history of firefighting and what it takes to be a firefighter.