9781422285053

Protecting people’s lives is the main respon- sibility of any first responder. Taking care of valu- able and important buildings does have a place on the list, however. If firefighters could knock down this fire quickly, they would save a piece of history. They knew that the residents were all safe, so it was time to protect property. However, as in any fire situation, things can change in an instant. As the firefighters continued to find new pockets of flame, another danger ap- peared suddenly. From high above them, burned by the massive fire, a live power line landed in a blaze of sparks. Stepping on that electrical wire would mean instant death. An already touchy situation for Santa Barbara firefighters just got a lot more dangerous. Later, in the “Mission Accomplished” chapter, find out how the firefighters success- fully completed their mission. First, learn more about how firefighters do their jobs and the gear they use.

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