Fire! (Scholastic Reference) [Hardcover]

Joy Masoff (Author), Jack Resnicki (Illustrator), Barry D. Smith (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Series: Scholastic Reference

This action-packed, full-color book explores everything about fighting fires--the rigs, the gear, the fires, the rescues, and the firefighters Ages 8-12. Pub: 2/98. .

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6?Readers will feel the heroism, bravery, and thrill of being a firefighter when they delve into Masoff's informative and action-packed presentation. Spectacular full-color photos accompany a text that tells how fires start, how they burn, how firefighters get to the fire, and what equipment they use. Jargon such as flashover, flashpoint, and backdraft is clearly defined. This book expresses well the point that being a firefighter involves much more than putting out fires. Readers will see that firefighters respond to numerous calls for help such as a child trapped in a cave, a car accident, a hazardous materials spill, and many others incidents. An interview section brings out a discussion of a firefighter's worst fears, how hot fires are, and the various tests of strength required to do the job, such as being able to drag an 80-pound hose. Masoff also provides a historical look at firefighting in colonial Jamestown and includes other bits of history such as the invention of alarm boxes and the introduction of the dalmation as mascot. Safety tips for fire prevention are included as is a "find out more" section that includes magazines, films, addresses of organizations, and a Web site. If you have budding firefighters in your midst, this is a must buy.?Katherine Borchert, Arlington Central Library, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-7. Masoff's tone is sometimes breathless as she describes the excitement and the facts of firefighting. This is authentic real-life drama, where just about everything is an emergency, death is often close, time is running out, and people are rescued by heroes doing their jobs. At the same time, this full-color photo-essay is rooted in details of how fires start, how they burn, how firefighters get to the fire, what gear they use, and all the ways they perform their rescue work. The design is like a lively, crowded magazine article with lots of pictures, sidebars, screens, and captions for browsing. Each double-page spread shows various firefighters at work--in city buildings, forest areas, floods, auto accidents (the Jaws of Life is a big 50-pound can opener for a crushed car). The book begins and ends with important warnings ("12 safety things you can do right now"), and there is a bibliography of books and magazines, associations and online resources, films, and places to visit. Kids may start by browsing through the accounts of incredible rescues, past and present; many readers will also enjoy the details about technology, arson detection, and equipment. Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590978721
• ISBN-13: 978-0590978729
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,893,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good one for the smaller readers, April 18, 2002

By 

Mike "Squirrel Nutkin" (Fairfax, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire! (Scholastic Reference) (Hardcover)

Ok, so I have to admit that I am mentioned in this book, but this is not why I gave it 5 stars. When I reviewed this book a number of years back I found it to be a great introduction to younger readers about the fire service. It also shows the diversity of the fire service today as well as where it is heading in the future and where it came from in the past. Even if you don't have a young one, get a copy for your fire library at home, or even at the fire station.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exciting Look at Modern Fire Fighting, April 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fire! (Scholastic Reference) (Hardcover)

An excellent follow up to Emergency also by Joy Masoff. Tons ofgreat color photos let the average person feel like they are actuallyin a burning building spraying water over a blazing fire. The book also shows a lot of the very high tech equipment used to fight fires today.