From colonial times to the modern day, two things have remained constant in American history: the destructive power of fires and the bravery of those who fight them. Fighting Fire! brings to life ten of the deadliest infernos this nation has ever endured: 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. Gr 5–8—Fire has shaped the landscape of America since Colonial times. Cooper has taken this high-interest topic and used primary sources to relate how firefighters fought those blazes. He covers famous urban disasters, such as the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake/fire, among others. The firefighting and rescue efforts of September 11, 2001, are discussed in detail. Cooper also delves into lesser-known fires, such as the one aboard the excursion boat the General Slocum, in 1904, which killed 1,021 people. The author does an excellent job of relating advances in fire safety and firefighting techniques to the lessons learned from these tragedies. Relying upon sources that range from Colonial diaries to modern television news transcripts, he incorporates eyewitness accounts to strengthen his writing. The tone of writing is dramatic but not sensationalized. In all, this well-researched book should circulate if demand for firefighting materials is high. In addition, libraries in or around the areas featured (Boston, New York City, Baltimore, Chicago, San Francisco, and San Diego County) may wish to purchase for local interest.—Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI This well-researched book looks at 10 significant fires in U.S. history: Boston in 1760, New York City in 1835, Chicago in 1871, Baltimore in 1904, New York’s General Slocum steamboat in 1904, San Francisco in 1906, New York’s Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911, Boston’s Cocoanut Grove nightclub in 1942, New York’s World Trade Center in 2001, and San Diego County’s wildfires in 2007. Along the way, Cooper traces the history of firefighting in America, from citizen volunteers manning bucket brigades to a cooperative, international force of professional firefighters. The illustrations include a good selection of period prints depicting early fires as well as many photos of later blazes and the devastation they caused. Cooper organizes the material well, writes clearly, and refrains from sensationalizing the already dramatic stories. A must-read for young people intrigued by disasters, this book also offers plenty of solid, usable information for reports on specific fires. Grades 5-8. --Carolyn Phelan “Lively, with dramatic illustrations to match.” ― The Horn Book “The author does an excellent job of relating advances in fire safety and firefighting techniques to lessons learned from these tragedies.” ― School Library Journal “Ten chapters, arranged in chronological order, highlight major skirmishes in the ongoing war for human control over fire.” ― BCCB Michael L. Cooper is the award-winning author of many history and biography books for young readers, including Fighting Fire! and Dust to Eat . He lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Fighting Fire! Ten of the Deadliest Fires in American History and How We Fought Them By Michael L. Cooper Henry Holt and Company Copyright © 2014 Michael L. Cooper All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8050-9714-6 Contents Title Page, Copyright Notice, Dedication, Introduction, 1 Colonial America's Biggest Fire Boston, 1760, 2 A Terrible Torrent of Fire New York, 1835, 3 America's Most Famous Fire Chicago, 1871, 4 New Century, Old Problem Baltimore, 1904, 5 Fire on the Water New York, 1904, 6 America's Last Great Urban Fire San Francisco, 1906, 7 Deadly Workplace Fire New York, 1911, 8 Nightclub Tragedy Boston, 1942, 9 9/11: Fire in the Sky New York, 2001, 10 Wildfire San Diego County, 2007, Fire Engines in American History, Fire Museums to Visit, Recommended Reading, Websites to Visit, Source Notes, Glossary, Bibliography, Index, Copyright, CHAPTER 1 COLONIAL AMERICA'S BIGGEST FIRE BOSTON, 1760 In the days of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, big fires regularly destroyed towns and cities, but no city burned more than Boston. Between Boston's founding in 1630 and the start of the American Revolution in 1775, fires regularly devastated large sections of the city. It's not hard to see why. The Puritans who settled on Boston's hilly Shawmut Peninsula used wood from nearby forests to build practically everything — houses, churches, and shops. They ev