Books like Report from Engine Co. 82

I have to thank my Goodreads friend, "Brother Skip" for getting me interested in this book after reading his review of it. Do you realize, that unlike incidents with the police, whenever there is a fire there is a great deal of focus on the fire, with little or no mention of the firemen fighting it. (a gender neutral word for this profession is firefighters, though women make up less than 20% of the force in western countries). This lack of focus is a shame. We hardly hear of these heroes. For better or worse, we hear of cops, and we are aware of soldiers in combat, but rarely think of fire fighters, who fight fires, not people, and who are known to risk their lives to save others. They deserve to be admired.This book is an account of what it was like to be in a fire company in one of the worst neighborhoods in the US, so it is doubly educational. I learned quite a few things, most of them unpleasant. Here are some:Fire fighting is the most hazardous profession in the world.An average of 8 firemen each year die in the line of duty in New York City alone Fire fighters are called for a variety of emergencies, not just fires: car accidents, drug overdoses and other medical emergencies, even shootings.The number of malicious false alarms is just incredible, averaging over 100,000 per year in the US.While this book was an eye-opening account of the experiences of a fire fighter, it was somewhat tainted with parts reflecting on poverty and behavior of people in the ghetto, which while sympathetic, at times seemed stilted and insincere. Also, I did not appreciate a few snide remarks concerning protests against the Vietnam war (I admit, I'm overly sensitive on that issue). Notwithstanding these minor points, the book was a great way to gain insight into what it takes to work in this noble profession.I might try some other accounts, such as Gutter Medicine: Twenty-six Years as a Firefighter Paramedic, and 38 Years a Detroit Firefighter's Story