Gina Bellisario - Lets Meet a Firefighter

cl verleaf books TM

Community Helpers

L ets M eet a

F irefighter

Gina Bellisario Illustrated by Ed Myer

For firefighting heroes G.B.
To Pat and Dean E.M.

Text and illustrations copyright 2013 by Lerner Publishing
Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part
of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the
prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except
for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.
Millbrook Press
A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
241 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A.
Website address: www.lernerbooks.com
Main body text set in Slappy Inline 18/28.
Typeface provided by T26.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bellisario, Gina.
Let's meet a firefighter / by Gina Bellisario ; illustrated by
Ed Myer.
p. cm. (Cloverleaf books: community helpers)
Includes index.
ISBN: 9780761390251 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper)
1. Fire fightersJuvenile literature. I. Title.
HD8039.F5.B45 2013
363.37dc23 2012022479
Manufactured in the United States of America
1 BP 12/31/12

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Emergency Fighter

Our class is visiting a fire station.
We want to find out what a firefighter does.
We meet Jim the firefighter.

Firefighters are first
responders. They are the
first workers sent to an
emergency.

I solve problems called emergencies, says
Firefighter Jim.
Does that mean you put out fires? asks Juliana.

Firefighter Jim says he does a lot more than fight fires.

He helps out at
traffic accidents.

He rescues people
trapped by floods.

But mostly, he deals with medical emergencies.
Sometimes people who are sick or hurt need help fast.
A fire department ambulance can often get there
the fastest.

Many fire departments have
their own ambulances for
medical emergencies.

Firefighters also fight plenty of fires. They put out
fires in buildings and save people in danger.

When theyre not fighting fires,
firefighters plan ahead. They
walk through buildings in their
area. They look for exits, count
doors, and draw maps of rooms.
And they find the nearest fire
hydrants. That way, theyll be
prepared if a fire happens.

Some firefighters stop wildfires.

When I grow up, I want to help people in
emergencies, says Maya.

Thats what I said too, says Firefighter Jim. After
high school, I went to a fire academy. I learned
how firefighters do their job. Then I became a
firefighter.
You mean an emergency fighter! says Maya.

All firefighters must learn
life -saving skills. They get first
aid training. They practice caring
for wounded people and giving
medicine. Many firefighters also
learn how to handle more serious
medical emergencies.

Chapter Two

Toolbox on Wheels

Firefighter Jim uses rescue tools for emergencies.
He keeps the tools inside his fire truck.

An ax opens windows. A fire hose carries water.
Jims air pack holds oxygen. A fire can fill a
room with smoke. The pack gives Jim clean air. He
breathes the air through a mask on his face.

I n any kind of
emergency, people can
call -1 -1 for help.

I wear the air pack with my firefighting
clothes, says Firefighter Jim. Firefighting
clothes are called bunker gear.

Safety is important when
fighting fires. So firefighters
follow the two-in two-out
rule. Two firefighters go into
a building to fight a fire
together. Two stay out
and watch for dangers
the others cant see.

Special pants and coats protect Jim against
burns. This bunker gear keeps him safe in fires
up to 500F (260C).

A metal ladder on top
helps firefighters climb
feet (30 meters) high.
Ladder hooks latch onto a
roof. They keep the ladder
steady against a building.

Taking care of tools
is an important part
of a firefighters job.
Firefighters clean their fire
truck. They wash fire hoses
and other supplies. Broken
equipment is replaced.
That way, their tools are
ready for the next rescue.

Chapter Three

Community Hero

Firefighter Jim is more than an emergency
fighter. He teaches the community about
fire safety. Gavin thinks that makes
Jim a hero.

Firefighters are people