Fire Night!

Fires are scary. The appearance of firefighters can be scary, too. In Fire Night! twelve-year-old Katy Wong demonstrates that fire education pays off. Katy applies what she has learned to overcome her fears and make the right decisions.

Not long ago, a newspaper advertisement made me aware of just how terrifying a firefighter in full protective gear can be to a small child. Until then, I had never realized how scary I looked and sounded. I thought that if I were a child, frightened by smoke and fire, the last person I would trust would be a faceless monster, breathing like a nightmare creature. But I know that hiding from this "monster" will ultimately endanger the lives of children and the lives of the firefighters working to save them. Approximately 1,200 children die in fires in their homes each year. I sincerely hope that reading Fire Night! will help to educate your children and reduce this staggering number.

Education is the key. By sharing this book w! ith your children, you will motivate them to listen carefully when fire safety is addressed at school. They may even ask to visit me at the fire house, where they are always welcome. (Roy A. Davis, World Record Holder, Combat Challenge, Tacoma Fire Department, Tacoma, Washington)