Reflections in Smoke: A Firefighter's Story [Hardcover]

Charles W. Wright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 29, 2003

REFLECTIONS IN SMOKE is a story about firefighters, their job, their families, and their relationships with other firefighters, citizens and the city officials. The story is seen through the eyes of Charles E. Mixler, a World War II combat Marine Veteran, who had attended Center City College. Mixler becomes interested in the fire department after seeing the firemen in action. Charlie joins the Center City Fire Department in1949. Over his thirty year career, he and his fellow firefighters encounter a variety of emergencies and life threatening situations, as well as calling on their human instincts in helping people cope with tragedy and loss. He completes rookie school and is assigned to a fire company. Charlie learns his trade by the aid of his officers and his fellow firefighters. Throughout the book there are many fire runs and other emergencies. There are fires in homes, stores, and factories. There are fatal fires, automobile accidents, storms, an airplane crash, Church fires and arsons. These emergencies cover the scope of a firefighter's job. The story takes you inside the many fires and emergencies and makes you almost think you can smell the smoke and feel the heat. There is a fatal fire that involves a firefighter, his crews' reaction, the viewing and the funeral. The story also relates to the family side of a firefighter's life and the trials and traumas they must endure. It also tells of the personal toll a firefighter's chosen profession takes on him and his peers, as they must deal with death and other emergencies on a daily basis. The story explains what makes a man do this dirty, demanding, dangerous job and keep coming back for more in spite of the cost. It tells the story of a happy family and the support they give the firefighter. It also tells the sad story of a family break up, divorce and of the heartbreak of Charlie's friend, Paul Davidson. The firefighter's sense of humor, crude as it may sometimes be, shows how they use humor

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Charles W. Wright was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from Stivers High School in 1943 and immediately joined the United States Marine Corps. He served in combat in the Pacific and was also recalled to serve in the Korean War. He attended the University of Dayton for a while, but decided he would rather be a firefighter than a CPA. Charlie served twenty-eight and one-half years with the Dayton Fire Department. After retirement, he served as a Fire Safety Education Specialist with the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office for fourteen and one-half years. Charlie likes almost all kinds of music. He is an accomplished musician and loves to play Dixie land. He is active in several non-profit organizations and still keeps in touch with the fire service. Charlie is a widower. He has two children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 632 pages
• Publisher: 1st Book Library (July 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410745783
• ISBN-13: 978-1410745781
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,317,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good intention, but falls short, November 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Reflections in Smoke: A Firefighter's Story (Paperback)

While a true story about people who put their lives in peril to help the rest of us is timely and admirable, this book sadly doesn't live up to potential. Mr. Wright obviously has a wealth of experiences to share, and there are compelling moments in his memoir. However, this rambling tome is in desperate need of a competent editor, something his publisher (1stBooks, a self-publishing house) should revise in their "hands off" policy regarding author's manuscripts. There are unexplained lapses in the narrative, characters appear then vanish, and the whole book just doesn't flow in a manner one would expect for a tale based on actual events.