Fire!

What is this selection mostly about?

• the importance of fire department equipment

• firefighting now and long ago in the United States

• a day in the life of one important firefighter

• the dangers of firefighting

There are _______ firefighters in the United States.

• twenty five

• under ten thousand five hundred

• about a million and a half

• over ten million

Every fire department does things their own way, but they all agree that the job is

• always challenging.

• never exciting.

• too boring to work there a long time.

• too hard to handle.

Who is in charge of the firefighting crew during a "worker"?

• a driver

• a firefighter

• an officer

• a back-stepper

According to the selection, a rig is the name of the

• firehouse pole.

• firetruck.

• firefighting equipment.

• fire alarm.

What is the first thing a firefighter does when getting to work?

• makes his or her bed and cleans the station house

• gets his or her gear in order and sets it up next to the fire truck

• attends a training session

• shops for groceries and prepares dinner

What does the word overhaul mean to firefighters?

• The fire is almost out.

• The fire is starting again.

• The ashes must be soaked until they are cold.

• The townspeople form a bucket brigade.

What's one reason towns burned if one house caught fire in the 1600s?

• They didn't have firefighters back then.

• They didn't understand the causes of fire.

• They built their houses too quickly and sloppily.

• They built their houses out of flammable materials.

Why were children part of the firefighting force in the 1600s?

• Windows in houses were too small for adults.

• All children were required to work.

• It took the whole town to put out fires.

• Every house had a bucket hanging next to the door.

In the 1600s, why did the town elders order a curfew for the citizens?

• Fires often occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 4:30 a.m.

• Firefighters were not available during the night.

• People needed to sleep all night.

• People needed to be off the streets during the night.