1. How did you get involved in firefighting and arson?
My interest and involvement with firefighting and arson began while I was an Assistant Prosecutor in Essex County, NJ and was placed in charge of the Arson Investigation and Prosecution Unit. The unit, mostly financed by federal funds, brought together some 23 police and fire officers all of whom received training as arson investigators.

2. Your book focuses on firefighting from an historical perspective. What is the earliest evidence of organized firefighting and equipment?
It is generally accepted that the Romans were the first to engage in (albeit rudimentary) firefighting activities. These efforts began early in the years of the empire and were gradually improved with soldiers and slaves, known as the vigiles, permanently organized to fire fires. Equipment included pikes, hand -pulled fire squirters that resembled a giant syringe on wheels, short ladders, and, of course, water buckets.

3. Forest fires in the US have been a terrible problem this year. When/where was the biggest forest fire and what developments have come out of it?
The Big Burn of 1910 roared over 3 million acres of Montana and Idaho and gave rise to the ongoing controversy over the best policy to follow in battling wilderness fires.
Gifford Pinchot, an early head of the the US Forest Service, believed that fighting every fire was not a good idea because fuel on the forest floor was left to burn later, creating even larger fires. Controlled or "light surfaces" burning was recommended as a solution but abandoned and replaced by a policy of total fire suppression. In recent years, light surface and controlled burning has been used by the US Forest Service but only with limited success. Most conservationists believe that, despite its limits, it must be followed while the natural forest cycle of growth, fire, and regrowth takes place.

4. Besides "stop, drop, and roll," what are some other safety tips for a fire emergency?
There are many things that people can do to survive a fire or to prevent one. If clothes catch fire, STOP running, DROP to the ground, and ROLL to extinguish the flames. At home, have at least one fire extinguisher, install smoke alarms and check to batteries on a regular basis. Keep doors closed to prevent fire from spreading and if you know or believe that a fire has started put your hand on any door to check for heat before opening it. Have a home evacuation plan. If there is a fire, call the fire department even if you believe it's out.
When there is smoke, get down and crawl to safety. People have been found dead in bathtubs covered with water having died from smoke inhalation. Finally, remember that fires grow fast. In any public building including hotels, offices, restaurants, and theaters, look around for exits as a matter of routine. These are just a few tips for your fire safety and survival.

5. What are some of the key developments in high-rise construction, safety, and firefighting techniques to come out of the World Trade Center disaster?
The problem of fighting fire in a high-rise building has been studied well before the World Trade Center disaster. There have been high-rise fires in the US and abroad over the years although, obviously, September 11 brought the issue into sharp focus. There are now and will continue to be pressures for more exits, better and more backup lighting, more efficient evacuation plans, more improvements and study of both fire-resistant materials and building design. But high-rise structures present fire problems that, according to fire and building design experts, may never be totally eliminated.