Fighting Fire!: Ten of the Deadliest Fires in American History and How We Fought Them

by Michael L. Cooper

From colonial times to the modern day, two things have remained constant in American the destructive power of fires and the bravery of those who fight them.

Fighting Fire! by Michael L. Cooper brings to life ten of the deadliest infernos this nation has ever the great fires of Boston, New York, Chicago, Baltimore, and San Francisco, the disasters of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, the General Slocum, and the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, the wildfire of Witch Creek in San Diego County, and the catastrophe of 9/11. Each blaze led to new firefighting techniques and technologies, yet the struggle against fires continues to this day. With historical images and a fast-paced text, this is both an exciting look at firefighting history and a celebration of the human spirit.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Childrens

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 4, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: Michael L. Cooper


Michael L. Cooper is a writer living in Louisville, Kentucky. For more information about him and his books visit michaellcooper.com. Thanks. MLC

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting! Brief historical accounts of some of the worst fires in the US since colonial times. Makes me want to read more.

[Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written or compiled book, the pictures are all black and white wish some would have been in color or less grainy, some maps and reproduced drawings, easy to read text, recommended reading for kids,young adults or adults. featuring pictures of some fire equipment but without description of make or model. did not like the part of unions featured in there, but some stories that I was unaware of are in the book. glad I got my copy, would read again.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little book. Not exactly tough reading-but interesting. It would be nice if the book explained fire-fighting technology in great detail.

[Tim Heise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great basic history of fire events in American history. Easy reading. Great for youth.

[Teresa Scherping Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire has been a part of human life since before recorded history, and over the centuries we've developed better ways of harnessing and controlling fire. Sometimes, though, we lose control. This is the story of the ten deadliest fires in American history and how they were fought. Beginning in colonial times, fires have erupted in America's largest cities because of a lack of knowledge of how fire spreads and an abundance of flammable building materials. Over time, firefighting techniques and technology advanced, preventing or stopping fires before they could cause too much damage. Some tragedies caused the development of fire prevention techniques, such as building codes, and fire preparation procedures, such as fire drills. Once these measures were in place, we still saw major fires as a result of natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Read about the history of deadly American fires as they intersect with some of the major moments in American history.

This book was really interesting and easy to read. The development of firefighting technologies is fascinating. I never knew that in the past we had pumps that could spray large amounts of water long distances but were still being pulled by horses. On the other hand, the stories themselves are pretty horrifying, especially (to me) the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, and the General Slocum steamboat fire. Of course, that's not including September 11th, 2001, which is definitely the story that most moved me emotionally. This may be because I remember that event, though, and kids today might not have the same reaction.

I would recommend this book to grades 4-8, especially those interested in American history, firefighting, or true survival stories. Fans of the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis would probably like this.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fighting Fire!: Ten of the Deadliest Fires in American History and How We Fought Them by Michael Cooper is a nonfiction book for children and adults alike. The book details 10 of the deadliest fires in American history from colonial times to the modern day. There are two constants in all of the stories, the destructive power of fires and the bravery of those who fight them. The infernoes included in this book are the great fires of Boston, New York, Chicago, Baltimore, and San Francisco, the disasters of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, the General Slocum, and the Coconut Grove nightclub, the wildfire of Witch Creek in San Diego County, and the catastrophe of 9/11. Each blaze led to new firefighting techniques and technologies, however the battles against fires continues to this day. The book offers historical images and a fast-paced text, this is both an exciting look at firefighting history, a celebration of the human spirit, and a chronicle of lost lives and dreams.

Fighting Fire! is a must read for anyone that is interested in the history of fire fighting, knows fire fighters, or have been touched by fire's devastation in their lives. The book is not always an easy read, as the stories and lives lost are heart wrenching. However the things we have learned from fires, the changes we have made and the techniques we have developed in response to the tragedies offer us hope and inspiration for further innovation. It is a wonderful resource about the history of our nation, its people, and fire fighting techniques through the lens of tragedy and loss.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

My father is a volunteer firefighter so that sparked my interest when I saw this book at the library. I did not realize it was a middle school book since it was shelved in general non-fiction. But the writing is much crisper and easier to read because of that level. The author does an excellent job of describing each fire, its historical context, how the firefighters combated the fire, and the repercussions. There were a few moments where I felt the author was overexplaining a few terms but then I realized the general public is not as familiar with firefighter terminology as the son of a firefighter is.

Several facts about the fires were very surprising. For instance, the Baltimore fire was so bad because fire hydrants did not have standard connections with hoses. What makes it surprising is this problem still exists today because cities do not want to spend the money! I also learned why buildings with revolving doors have to have normal doors (hint: it's not for handicapped access, although that is likely a later reason).

A great, quick read that gives a very interesting history of firefighting.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire is both an incredibly fascinating phenomenon and a sometimes terrifying reality. Fighting Fire shares with the reader the terrifying side of fire and the courage of those who fight it. Each chapter focuses on one of the ten major fires that caused both tremendous damage and in some cases, loss of life. The book is over 200 pages and so is likely to appeal to more advanced readers, although the many photographs included do a great job breaking up the text. The text also reads more like a narrative making the book easy to read. The large font and spacing also add to the ease of reading the book. This book highlights how far civilization has come in the fight against fire while also reminding the reader of the sacrifices that people have made along the way to achieve these advances. This is the type of book that makes history come alive to the reader.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting with the 1760 fire that ravaged Boston, and ending with the 2007 San Diego county fire, this middle grade and above text details the ten deadliest fires in the US. In a clear writing style, each chapter is punctuated by several illustrations, photos, and reproductions of newspaper headlines. The book can be read as a continual improvement of fire fighting, or each chapter could stand on it's own as a part of that city's history. Besides the sequence of events leading up to and the techniques used to fight the fire, each chapter discusses the new knowledge gained form the fire, and the subsequent changes in safety regulations, equipment, and fire fighting techniques. Includes a generous bibliography of books and web sites, source notes, a glossary, and and index.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cooper provides a readable history of ten of the deadliest fires in American history. The subject matter isn't always a pleasant read, but the spirit and strength of the firefighters and survivors comes through. I was slightly disappointed that all of the illustrations and photographs were black and white. Fire is such an amazing substance that I think some color photos from more recent fires would have been dynamic. However at the same time I appreciated the mood created by only having black and white photos. I did love the blazingly colorful cover. And I enjoyed seeing the evolution of firetrucks at the back of the book. This is probably best suited for 5th grade and up all the way to adults.

[Mrs. Melaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic example of narrative non-fiction. Ten of the worst fires in American history are described chronologically. The gripping accounts begin in Boston (1760) and end in San Diego County (2007). In between, among others, are the famous Chicago fire in 1871, the loss of the General Slocum riverboat in 1904, the Cocoanut Grove nightclub calamity in Boston (1942), and 9/11. Fascinating details, including first-hand accounts of the fires as well as plentiful black-and-white photographs add interest and deepen readers’ understanding of the events. When read in order, a history of firefighting emerges from the separate accounts.

[Alexa Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clear writing, all the jargon is defined. Though the subtitle says this is about how these fires were fought, it really provides a larger picture. I actually wished there was more about how people fight fires. It did address the many changes we've made in the US over the years to increase fire safety. Nearly every chapter spoke to that until it got to 9/11. I may be biased, that being a tragedy I remember quite vividly but it felt far more terrifying than the rest since almost everything else was force of nature or preventable (and would go on to be prevented in later years).

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firefighting equipment and techniques have changed dramatically over the centuries. This book tells the stories of 10 different, deadly fires that have occurred in the US from Colonial times to the present. With drawings and photos to support the narrative text, these changes can be clearly seen. Several of the fires described were ones that I was quite familiar with, but others were unknown to me. While an interesting and informative text, it may have a select audience unless it can be tied to a natural disaster curriculum.

[Becket · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disaster-hungry readers will appreciate the descriptions (complete with black-and-white photos and illustrations) of fiery devastation, even though the overall layout of the book is fairly uninspiring; educators will appreciate use of primary sources (complete with source notes and a bibliography).

[Dolores · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Tells the story of 10 of the worst American fires. For the most part the book held my attention. Some chapters were definitely more interesting than others. I will openly admit that I'm not much of a nonfiction fan, and while this wasn't the worst book I've ever read--it certainly wasn't the best. I do believe it has appeal for younger boys.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that boys especially would enjoy this nonfiction narrative about deadly fires in U.S. history. It includes some of the most famous fires--Great Chicago Fire, San Francisco Fire, Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, and 9-11 fire after the bombing of the World Trade Centers.
Interesting narrative, photographs, and primary source material.

[Doug Bivens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief but a good read. Not a comprehensive source but contains information on several famous fires including the Baltimore fire of 1904, The steamboat General Slocum fire, and The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911 which makes this book a great jumping off point for research/interest. There are also several lists in the back of the book of information to aid in further research on this topic

[Donna Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was an easy read. Each chapter discussed a different major fire in U.S. history and what firefighters learned from the battle. My only critique is that the book dealt with the more technical side of fires and fire safety, whereas my interest lies with how people's lives were affected by the fires.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative look at how firefighting has evolved in American History, focusing on ten fires in history, including the September 11 attack. The focus of the book is how the fires were fought rather than the start of them and the devastation caused. Very informative.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spanning from the late 18th century to the recent past, Cooper chronicles in a richly illustrated, dramatic narrative ten fires that each provide a different angle to the history of American firefighting.

[pati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent primer for the children who are interesting in fire fighters/fighting.

[Tena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just started reading.... Thoroughly enjoying this book so far.

Each fire has led to improvements in fire service and firefighting.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is amazing how people can rebuild and change things for the better after a tragedy.

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beehive Award Nominee 2016

[Alexander Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

Beehive Award Nominee 2016

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and heartbreaking - all at the same time.