Old Men and Fire: Parables from a Volunteer Firehouse
Kindle Direct Publishing, 2017

At the age most folks collect social security, preacher and popular author Gary Kowalski became a volunteer with his local Fire & Rescue.  Being a First Responder, he discovered, means more than driving a big red truck.  It involves coping with grief, fear and addiction, but also offers glimpses of altruism, teamwork and courage that show people at their finest.  

This book is a collection of life lessons learned from the end of a high pressure nozzle.  How a friend found grace after seeing his house go up in smoke.  Why some people risk their lives for others.  Identifying a personal mission.  Why the biggest disasters sometimes make for the best stories.

​Neither firefighter nor aging, you will discover, are for sissies.  All proceeds benefit Hondo Fire & Rescue.

 As a retired firefighter and paramedic I confirm his stories are truthful and his compassion for colleagues and victims a tribute to the profession. His documentation includes many people in many places as well as political, philosophical, and spiritual application. This book is well researched with an even presentation of personal and shared experiences. Easy reading in one session with chapters that pull you on to the next. If you are a firefighter you will find yourself thinking "oh, yes" repeatedly. If not, you will gain a new perspective and appreciation for those who are.   Amazon Verified Customer

Gary brings an eloquent voice to the rough and tumble world of firefighting. In his short book he incorporates a personal perspective along with historical and current accounts of the evolving and dangerous work firefighting and rescue entails. This “job description,” in my humble opinion (as a retired fire captain/paramedic/training officer), is one of the best ever written.  J.C. Corcoran