AC’s First Responders Academy Hosts Book Signing for Tales from the Ashes 

Dr. Fred Napp, an Amarillo College graduate and adjunct faculty member, will share some details about his career and sign copies of his book, Tales from the Ashes, at a book signing from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 17 at AC’s First Responders Academy at 3891 Plains Boulevard in Amarillo.

Napp’s career began as a volunteer firefighter in high school. The book draws on his experiences growing up in Dumas and on his 30 years of experience in fire and arson investigations across Texas.

“I wanted to learn more about firefighting, so even though I was a volunteer, I enrolled in AC’s program and earned my peace officer certification,” Napp said. “It really opened up my options.”

A short time later, Napp accepted a position with the Haltom City Fire Department in Tarrant County and worked through the ranks to become an arson investigator.

“It’s kind of just the stories of different fires that I investigated, and some of them are like, that's terrible,” he said. "Others are sad, but that's it, you have both when you're investigating fires.”

Napp retired last February and told his crew he planned to write a book.

“When I did a fire investigation, I had all these detailed notes of all these cases that I wrote down,” he said. “People have asked me ‘how do you remember this?’ It’s because I had my case reports, and I changed some names of juveniles and where the reader didn't need to know what the real names were, but that's how I put the book all together.”

Napp is now working on a second book focused on fire science and investigation for everyday readers.

“That’s my whole hope,” Napp said. “Let’s get people to come, be interested, and maybe even see themselves doing this work. If I can help spark that, then it’s worth it.”

Attendees may bring a copy of Napp’s book or purchase one of a limited number of copies available at the event.

There will also be an opportunity to learn more about the Fire Academy and the associate in applied science degree, speak with instructors, and tour the facility.

To apply to the Fire Academy or related academic programs, or to learn more about them, please contact Steve Malley, AC Fire Academy coordinator, at ssmalley@actx.edu or call 806-457-4450.