The Californer - Introducing a Children's Book Series on Wildland Firefighting

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Sparky The Brave Wildland Firefighter Cover

Jorge Hurtado, a Santa Barbara-based wildland firefighter, is writing a series to excite and inform young readers about his chosen profession.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Californer -- Sparky the Brave Wildland Firefighter series educates and entertains young readers with the work of Sparky the Bear and his wildland firefighting friends. The first book, released in 2023, introduced Sparky. Book Two, published in 2024, described Sparky's efforts as part of a Hotshot firefighting crew. Book Three, Engine Slug Adventures, coming on Nov. 1, 2025, will captivate children with the work of the "engine slugs," firefighters who operate the trucks that support their blaze-battling co-workers.

"The series inspires kids about the work of wildland firefighters," Hurtado says. "It also educates them about how wildland firefighters do their jobs—because their work is significantly different from the work of conventional firefighters."

For example, although people typically think of fire engines as red, many wildland fire engines are green. They're designed for off-road driving on difficult terrain, yet still equipped with essential firefighting equipment, including water tanks, pumps, hoses, and hand tools. Future books will introduce additional resources in the wildland firefighting arsenal, including helicopters, airplanes, and smokejumpers. In all, Hurtado plans eight to 10 books in the series.

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Hurtado is also releasing a coloring book to accompany each of his two previous titles. Like the stickers and other merchandise under the Sparky the Brave Wildland Firefighter umbrella, the coloring books will be available for purchase on Hurtado's website: https://sparkythebravewff.com/, as well as on Amazon.

Hurtado began his career fighting fires in 2016 as a seasonal wildland firefighter in the Cleveland National Forest near San Diego. After a few years, he transferred to the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles. Since 2023, he has worked in Los Padres National Forest.

His inspiration for the books comes from the bravery and teamwork he has witnessed among the Hotshot crews he's been part of. Plus, he realized from conversations with his nieces and nephews that most people don't understand the difference between wildland firefighting and the structure firefighting that municipal firefighters do.

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Hurtado has been delighted with kids' response to the books thus far, which he's experienced first-hand as a result of the readings he has done at elementary schools. His rapt young listeners have followed up with lots of great questions about wildfires and safety.

"That's my goal for the series," he says, "to educate and inspire. When parents or teachers read the books to their children, all of them will learn about wildland firefighting."

Readers can keep up to date with Sparky's adventures and new releases by following him on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.