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About the Author
Born in 1954 and raised in Indianapolis,
Kathy Gillette, left for a few years while
serving in the U.S. Army in Germany.
Missing home,she came back to major in
Physical Education and play basketball at
Indiana University. After a knee injury
during basketball practice, she switched
majors and earned degrees in German and
Business Management, taking five years to
finish her college education. Unsatisfied with
the business world and hearing her brother’s
adventures on the fire department, she
decided to apply. After a lengthy process,
with thousands of applicants, Kathy was
hired in March of 1985 along with 31 other
people. Twenty-two years later, there are 21
of her classmates still fighting fire. She
signed papers announcing her retirement
effective March 9, 2010. On her days off, she
manages a successful rental business. Her
son is grown, knocking heads as a bouncer.
Her husband is a police officer. His two
teenage daughters live with them.
Born in 1954 and raised in Indianapolis,
Kathy Gillette, left for a few years while
serving in the U.S. Army in Germany.
Missing home,she came back to major in
Physical Education and play basketball at
Indiana University. After a knee injury
during basketball practice, she switched
majors and earned degrees in German and
Business Management, taking five years to
finish her college education. Unsatisfied with
the business world and hearing her brother’s
adventures on the fire department, she
decided to apply. After a lengthy process,
with thousands of applicants, Kathy was
hired in March of 1985 along with 31 other
people. Twenty-two years later, there are 21
of her classmates still fighting fire. She
signed papers announcing her retirement
effective March 9, 2010. On her days off, she
manages a successful rental business. Her
son is grown, knocking heads as a bouncer.
Her husband is a police officer. His two
teenage daughters live with them.
Kathy Gillette's other car courtesy of
Chief Joe Olofson, twice retired.
Chief Joe Olofson, twice retired.
About the cover picture
On Saturday, March 4, 1989, my company and
several others were dispatched to the report of a
house fire. As we were searching for the seat of the
fire in a dark, smoky, double residence, a backdraft
occurred with an eruption of flames so sudden that
it left nothing but orange all around my buddies
and burned or injured all of them. The explosion
blasted them backward down the steps where they
fell in a heap. I assisted them outside and into
ambulances. After they left, I was distraught and
worried sick. One of them was hurt so badly, I
thought he might never return to work. Two officers
were trying to reassure me that nobody was going
to die and probably everyone would be back to
work in a few weeks or so. The picture was
snapped as I was listening, wiping the sweat, dirt,
and blood off my face with a shaky hand.
On Saturday, March 4, 1989, my company and
several others were dispatched to the report of a
house fire. As we were searching for the seat of the
fire in a dark, smoky, double residence, a backdraft
occurred with an eruption of flames so sudden that
it left nothing but orange all around my buddies
and burned or injured all of them. The explosion
blasted them backward down the steps where they
fell in a heap. I assisted them outside and into
ambulances. After they left, I was distraught and
worried sick. One of them was hurt so badly, I
thought he might never return to work. Two officers
were trying to reassure me that nobody was going
to die and probably everyone would be back to
work in a few weeks or so. The picture was
snapped as I was listening, wiping the sweat, dirt,
and blood off my face with a shaky hand.
Firefighterette Gillette
A Firefighter Who Crashed & Burned
A Success Story
is authored by 22 year veteran
Engineer Kathy Gillette,
Indianapolis Fire Department
A Firefighter Who Crashed & Burned
A Success Story
is authored by 22 year veteran
Engineer Kathy Gillette,
Indianapolis Fire Department
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Kathy Gillette in her fire gear
wearing an antique helmet borrowed
from a lieutenant. Kathy is showing
off her book
"Firefighterette Gillette
A Firefighter Who Crashed & Burned
A Success Story"
at the American Library
Association Expo
Photo compliments of Flickr-Photo
Sharing!
wearing an antique helmet borrowed
from a lieutenant. Kathy is showing
off her book
"Firefighterette Gillette
A Firefighter Who Crashed & Burned
A Success Story"
at the American Library
Association Expo
Photo compliments of Flickr-Photo
Sharing!
Contact Kathy Gillette 317 755 6670 PO Box 26587 Indianapolis, IN 46226
e-mail kathyjgillette@yahoo.com
e-mail kathyjgillette@yahoo.com
I met some wonderful people in Toronto at the Book Fair and in Collingswood, NJ, and
in Nashville, Tn. I would especially like to thank Frank in Philadelphia for the tour of the
Firefighter Museum and the subscription to "The Pennsylvania Fireman". Special
thanks go to Mike and Tracy Bunch in Nashville for making me feel so welcome. Jason
it was great to tour your firehouse and have dinner at your station. Thanks to all of the
avid readers in St. Pete who braved the rain to come to the festival. Thanks Miami for
your friendly welcome. It was great to meet all of your authors. Kathy Gillette
in Nashville, Tn. I would especially like to thank Frank in Philadelphia for the tour of the
Firefighter Museum and the subscription to "The Pennsylvania Fireman". Special
thanks go to Mike and Tracy Bunch in Nashville for making me feel so welcome. Jason
it was great to tour your firehouse and have dinner at your station. Thanks to all of the
avid readers in St. Pete who braved the rain to come to the festival. Thanks Miami for
your friendly welcome. It was great to meet all of your authors. Kathy Gillette