5/5 star for this really great read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC to me for review.

Chief Frank writes a great book detailing her multi-decade career as a professional firefighter in California. Her journey from seasonal worker to a chief of the department is filled with excitement, heartbreak, and history.

We get to see Chief Clare Frank work her way through the glass ceiling and pave the way for a new generation of a more open fire service - whether that is/was her point or not. In a profession that is largely uniform in who its employees are, she broke ground as a dedicated firefighter, engineer, captain, and chief.

Chief Franks book is filled with so much detail about her experience and she does a great job capturing the “rest of the job”. There are a few jobs/incidents mentioned throughout the book, but the real success of this come from her showing “everything else”. The news captures the calls, this peels the curtain back to the other hours of the day.

There is something for everyone in this book and I highly recommend it!

This was a harder read than I expected. Many of the details of her work on the force was fascinating, but I feel I spent a good bit of time covering my eyes because of the content.

This book is very thoughtful and well-written, but I couldn't get into it as a reader. I admire the work Frank and her colleagues did, but the pacing of this was not for me. I think I might do better with a paper copy of this one.

In a very male dominated field, the average person doesn’t see many female fire fighters, but Clare Frank is one of those few. Through her memoir we see her go through training and a seasonal fire fighter all the way up to retirement, which gives a 30+ year career span with her becoming second in command of Cal Fire. Also… she got a law degree too!!

Frank is a woman who could do anything it seems. Starting as an underage seasonal fire fighter (She left her birthday off her job application and was lucky enough for that to not be noticed) she always wanted to be a fire fighter, and even worked with her firefighter brother at times. She constantly pushed the envelope and broke down barriers when it didn’t seem possible.

We see how different she was treated as a female, but put a stop to that, making her peers see her who she was: A fire fighter, regardless of her gender. She kept up with the boys and proved herself many times over. We see her overcome obstacles, some which could have been career ending, but she didn’t let it be. She is one tough bad ass as she could really do her job!

During the course of her career we experience Frank’s rise through the ranks while doing a tough job and excelling. We see the highs and lows of her career and just when you think fire can’t get tougher... It does! Fire is brutal and we see it first hand as everyone is affected in various ways. And Frank lived in California which deals with extreme fires yearly.

Bravo to Frank for a well-done career and showing others, especially females, that if you want to do it, you can and will accomplish what you set your goals to be.

Many thanks to the publisher for granting me an arc to read and review in my own time.

This was a quick-moving book that provides a fascinating look at the career of a firefighter. Clare Frank writes about being a female firefighter at a time when they were even more underrepresented then they are now, but her gender does not define her or her career. A few parts in the first half of the book dragged a bit for me as it got a little repetitive hearing about each different fire station and its various crew members, but would overall recommend for anyone interested in the subject matter.

I've always been in awe of first responders (as I'm sure many others are, as well), so I was excited to have the opportunity to read this memoir. My mother was a staunch feminist (she used to blast Helen Reddy's "I am Woman, Hear Me Roar" during softball practice and in the car) and so I have a deep-rooted respect for women who "break the rules" and prove we can be as successful as men. Clare Frank's recounting of her time as a young firefighter during a period where to say it was uncommon would be an understatement is brave, fascinating, and made me want to put Helen Reddy on as I was reading this book. Frank worked hard and rose in the ranks, but it wasn't always easy. I appreciated that the author not only shared the struggles but also those who helped her along the way, because if we're being honest we need those in power to empower us, as well. There were moments that were tough to read and some moments that left me feeling anxious for her. This was a very compelling read that I would recommend to any nonfiction fan or anyone looking for an original memoir unlike most of what is on the shelves today.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

An amazing biography of one of California's first women firefighters. When the job seemed too much, she pushed through to continue to protect and save lives and property in a state that has seen more and more mega fires. I've read a few other biographies of firefighters and first responders. Clare Frank's ranks as one of the best. It will be interesting to hear what my firefighter friend and relatives have to say about her story.

A fascinating look at the world of fire and firefighters. This was a topic I had never really thought about before and I learned so much reading Frank’s memoir. Some spots jumped around which made it confusing but overall a solid memoir that will engage readers.

Burnt takes a deep look into the firefighting career of Clare Frank. I was interested in this memoir as my son has recently become a firefighter/EMT. Frank describes very real emotions and feelings since she is a woman working in a male dominated field. Although her fire career takes place in California, many of her experiences can by felt and understood by firefighters all over the country. Sharing parts of this memoir allowed my son and I to have deeper conversations about his own fire career, which brought us closer than ever. For that, I am grateful.

Thank you Abrams and NetGalley for this review copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

It took me a bit to get into this memoir, but once I did it was compelling. It was interesting to read about fires in California over the last thirty years. I thought I knew some of this because I watched the documentary Fire Chasers on Netflix a few years back, but there was a lot I didn’t know. I’m also interested in women in careers that are underrepresented by women. Clare started when she was 17 at a time it was rare for a woman in her field (it’s still rare, but things have improved for female firefighters—having varying sized masks, for example). She did face some discrimination—particularly once she took on leadership roles and encountered a man who couldn’t take orders from a woman—but she was usually able to shut down ignorant men by talking smack back to them and just being good at her job. There are parts of this that are harrowing as you would expect. Both what she saw happen to other people but also the physical toll this job took on her.

There is a ton of good information in general. There are also some ideas things we as a country need to deal with increasing wildfires.

This is well written and someone pursuing a career in this field should absolutely read (or if you just have an interest in the subject).

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this nonfiction book, which RELEASES MAY 23, 2023.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I generally liked this book and was intrigued by the premise. The jumping timelines felt a little jumbled, and it didn't feel compelling to finish. That said, it was an interesting look at a world very unfamiliar to me.

I found this memoir to be a page turner to the very end. Unlike most memoirs I have read, this one was very captivating. This begins with a 17 year old girl who knows what she intends to do knowing most girls don’t make it through. She begins in the same training facility that her older brother started,. He was able to guide her in the beginning to work under certain Fire Chiefs ones he knows can best to mentor her show her the ropes. Training proved she was a real go getter, She showed no fear and attacked the set fires as instructed earning her the top spot and eligible to pick her fire station. A story of a woman working her way up the ranks with her tenacity. She knew how best to attack a fire. Clare Frank definitely knows how to do a very dangerous job well. I learned so much about the sacrifice they endure. Yes I would definitely recommend, especially to those who live in California and intimately understand the devastation wildfires can cause.. she tells how wildfires tend to move.ll needs to be in libraries throughout California schools and home libraries. Special thanks to the following for allowing2023 me to review early. I have given my honest review.
#NetGalley
#AcornPress
#ClareFrank
#Burnt
Publication Date: May 23, 2023

This book is an excellent view into the real world of the fire service. For many people the essence of firefighting is the racing firetrucks with lights and sirens, firefighters jumping off the truck, pulling out the hoses and putting out the fire. They do not understand the preplanning, continual training, hard work and dedication that goes into being a firefighter.
Clare takes the reader deep into the world of firefighting. She gives you an insight to all the training and education that a firefighter must go through to perform their job - their lives and others depend on that knowledge. She shows you the physical and emotional hardships that they face. The wear and tear on their bodies as they strive to serve without thinking of themselves. The emotional stress from the things they see, calls they can't forget, but they continue on because of their love for their career and community. She reveals that there are female firefighters like herself and many others who love their profession and have always wanted to be a "firefighter".
Whether you are an old "smoke-eater" like me or just someone who truly wants to know about the true world of the fire service I think you will find this book a great read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy for my review.

In another life, I want to be a wildland firefighter. That ship has sailed as far as this life goes, but "fire memoir" is one of my pet subgenres, and Frank has seen a little bit of everything—from seasonal firefighting to permanent positions to working her way up the ranks. For all the fire memoirs I've read, precious few have been written by women (though Caroline Paul's "Fighting Fire" is an enduring favorite), and fewer (read: none) have covered life as part of the brass. "Burnt" changes that.

"Burnt" starts relatively slowly (and it is taking everything in me not to make a pun here), with Frank in the thick of it but not on the ground, but if you're looking for the more classic firefighting story, that's here in spades too, from early days of training to hours and days spent battling wildfires to responding to accident scenes. Despite (well-intentioned) parents who understood girls' options to boil down to "mother" or "nun," Frank was hell-bent on carving her own path...and so what we get here is a singular path forged by fire and determination.

I'm very intrigued by the variation in the stations where she worked—I suppose I'm used to either stories of city firefighters, who battle structural fires and so on, or stories of wildland firefighters, whose entire careers can be shaped by the seasonal rhythms of fire. Frank managed to land somewhere in the middle, between her first love of wildland firefighting and her later work in more built-up areas, each with their own successes and challenges. It's also perhaps worth noting that, although much of the book takes place twenty or more years ago, many of the parts attributable to climate (dry years leading to devastating fires, for example) will resonate today. I can only imagine what someone in Frank's position today might have to write twenty years from now.

Frank is smart about the book's structure, avoiding a linear timeline that would bog down the back end (no shade to the brass and other people working vital desk jobs to get things organized and funded, but for most of us, it's less fun to read about). There is still some inevitable deceleration, but then, with a book built around the stages of a fire...perhaps that's inevitable.

Also, perhaps, inevitable: one of these days I'll have to split my "row like your boat is on fire" Goodreads shelf into "row, row, row your boat" and "burn, baby, burn"...

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a free review copy through NetGalley.

This woman can tell a story and I look forward to more of them. If you have any interest in firefighting and how it was for one woman to survive (and succeed) in Cal Fire, eventually rising to the rank of Chief, you want to read this book (coming out May 2023).

It's a smooth read, largely autobiographical and well-written. She thoughtfully brings you along through her experiences, providing just enough detail to feel like you are there, but not so much that you get bogged down.

Clare Frank emancipated herself at age 17 and followed her older brother into the ranks of firefighting. The "how" is the interesting part, more so than the why. She is unapologetic for who she is. Her determination to succeed is less about showing off or breaking the glass ceiling and more about fulfilling a vocation by being strategic and adapting to circumstances.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Clare Frank has written a captivating account of her time as a firefighter in California, from pranks at the station to the discrimination she faced as the only woman in the room the majority of the time. She has presented her experience starting when she joined the department at 17 years old, (violating the requirements) and working her way through the ranks. Frank proves headstrong, determined, and quick-witted with every page. I highly recommend this memoir to anyone who is curious about the world of firefighting, or just wants to read about a badass lady. 💪💪

Burnt: A Memoir of Fire Fighting by Clare Frank details the life of a woman firefighter who overcomes adversity and rises to become one of the most powerful figures in her field. Underrepresentation among firefighters is something women continue to face. Yet Clare Frank is honest about the ways she stays in the fight. She never lets anyone stop her though they do try. Other firefighters doubt her abilities. They offer support by acting as family, and they reveal their own weaknesses too.

Clare Frank details her experiences as a firefighter with details, a strong voice, and wit. The storyline shows her ability to balance nerves and stresses in her language to relate directly to the demands of her job. Other memoirs differ from Burnt. This story carries the emotions of first responders and heroism. Her voice emanates toughness, perseverance and determination. What is a reality in a firefighter's life is at the forefront of the experiences in this memoir.

Well written and detailed, this is the story of one woman's experience moving up the ranks as a firefighter. Her experience was unique and sometimes harrowing, but the book itself was a bunch of vignettes sewn together into a whole. For many this is a perfectly acceptable format, but it didn't keep my attention.

Like many readers, I developed an incredible respect and honor for fire fighters, from September 11th long ago. This book renewed that respect to "pure gold", could not put it down. Very memorable, well-written stories. A perfect week-end read. Thank you Clare Frank for your incredible stories, not to be forgotten. And thank you NetGalley for this e-book to enjoy.

Fascinating memoir of a woman who started her firefighting career at 17 and rose through the ranks to Chief of Fire Protection. With a storytelling style that keeps the reader interested and engaged, this was a look into a career that most of us will never experience.

Simply great!

Thank you Netgalley and Abrams Press for the ARC!