Firemen Games — Jack Bennett

In the dangerous business of firefighting, a keen sense of humor seems a prerequisite for the wellbeing of firemen who face the stress of the job. In any firehouse, in the lull between emergency calls, firemen games are played. They games not only alleviate stress, they sharpen the wits of those engaged in sly one-upmanship. There are also the very serious "games" played in life-or-death situation of firefighting and rescue. In these, the fire itself may be the Arch Trickster, and firemen must use their wits to outguess, outplay, and defeat a deadly adversary. Split-second decisions are often needed to prevent loss of life and property. This novel tells the story of fireman Jack "Curly" Allen of the Los Angeles City Fire Department and abounds in games of all kinds. There are those played in the firehouse, in which a good laugh is had by all, and those played on the front line, in which winning depends on quick thinking and decisive action.

The story captures the feelings shared by all firemen in their hazardous jobs. It is also the story of a career--from rookie to Assistant Fire Chief, with many moves along the way--that provides valuable reading for young firemen facing career choices. While learning from Curly, they'll enjoy more than a few laughs, and discover some games played by the old pros.