Published by Chronicle Books

Summary: When a fire lookout spots smoke coming from the forest following a lightning strike, firefighters spring into action, digging a fireline to try to keep the fire from spreading. When the fire jumps the line, more strategies are needed, including fighting the fire from airplanes and helicopters. As people are evacuated and animals flee, other workers have jobs setting up camps for the evacuees and the firefighters. Even after the fire has been contained there is still work to be done, extinguishing burning material. Finally, the exhausted firefighters get a well-earned rest, but soon they are back on call awaiting the next fire. Includes additional information on fire ecology, describing old and new approaches, and facts about firefighters with labeled diagrams of their protective gear and supplies. 44 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros: This is a fascinating and timely look at many aspects of wildfires and the people who fight them. Each page has several sidebars with definitions of all kinds of terms used by firefighters. The art resembles old WPA posters, an appropriate style for the topic.

Cons: Some additional resources would have been nice.