(Reviewed by Heidi A. Swan)
“I exit the vehicle and move swiftly to the point of the accident to find something I have never seen in my five years in the [fire] department. There is the man…still smashed between the rear of one car and the front bumper of another car, and he is still alive…the pressure of the two vehicles smashed against the man’s body was the only reason that the man had not completely bled out…I don’t remember covering what to do with a man cut in half”
Michael Ford shares many such terrifying accounts about what it’s like to be first to arrive at what was probably the worst moments in peoples’ lives. In many cases, it was the end of their lives, as was the case in the above quote. However, in some cases, it was not gut wrenching. It was funny or touching. Like the time he helped a woman give birth in front of her entire family.
In addition to the heroic stories, he colorfully illustrates daily life inside a fire station. Like the drudgery of cleaning floors and toilets to the meticulous care and maintenance of a fire truck. What it’s like to share a sleeping porch full of snores and farts—and how some fled regularly to a couch in another room. He describes the oftentimes inappropriate humor of firefighters and how it ultimately helps them deal with the regular shock of facing life and death situations.
This is not just a compilation of anecdotes of twenty-three years as a firefighter; it’s also the story of Mr. Ford’s rise through the ranks. He tells us about the people who inspired him to strive for promotion and those whose words sought to hold him back. Mr. Ford recounts his hurdles, blunders, and tenacity as he ultimately moved forward to becoming his boss’s boss.
24: What Can Happen in a Day is a Christian book without being overly so. I am not a religious person and I was able to receive the messages Mr. Ford shared without feeling left out or like he was trying to change my beliefs. He has gleaned much from his experiences and lays them out like a benevolent teacher. Honestly, I felt like I was listening to the lifetime stories from a person I liked a lot.
There are many grammatical and editorial errors. Additionally, Mr. Ford could have started his heartfelt book with a more exciting beginning and then circled back to where he began his journey. Because it’s an autobiography, the climax is not as action-filled as one might expect in a book about first responders. Don’t let these blemishes get in the way of reading about how 24 hours in a day (a fire fighter’s shift) can change a life.
This is a good book for anyone who is thinking about fighting fires for a living because he so clearly depicts what that life is like. I have a new appreciation for fire fighters and will remember much of his story and the life lessons of 24: What Can Happen in a Day.
