About This Story Series
This story is part of a special series written by students in Stephanie Christopher’s 4th Grade Class at Elkhorn Elementary. After reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, students were challenged to write their own personal narrative in which their main character must survive in an extreme setting. Using Paulsen’s writing style as inspiration, they crafted exciting tales of adventure, danger, and resilience.
Out of all the submissions, six standout stories were selected to be published in the Excelsior Citizen. We hope you enjoy these incredible student-written survival stories!
The Wildfire
By Kaylee Elaine Lancaster
My name is Sam Gilliahan and me and my sister, Rene, work at the Australian Wildfire District. We save animals from wildfires, because they are super deadly and dangerous. Today, I found out my boss sent me and my crew to a mission in Sydney Farwest. I know that about 17 million animals die in one year from wild fires so we needed to get there ASAP.
We arrived at four in the morning and we saved 143 animals in two hours. This wild fire started at 1:30 in the morning and the temperature raised to about 116 degrees. We usually save foxes, rabbits, deer, frogs, mice, coyotes, and koalas. It is kinda easy to save animals but it is also very scary. We could literally die!!! I see people die all the time, you’ll get used to it. People thought my job was hard. I thought no, until now.
Me and my sister Rene were saving animals and we heard a loud bang!!! Now me and my sister thought it was a snag, because snags fall all the time. If you don’t know what a snag is, it is a tree that has fallen down during a wildfire. Then it kept happening but it got super intense. Everywhere trees were falling some different types. With the fire it looked like I was on the sun!! But then wait was it a man or a woman? Nevermind I don’t care anyways, they looked super mad and mean. Then I risked it to get an animal.
They pushed a tree on me. I risked my own life for an animal huh who would’ve thought, unbelievable!!! I was lying down on the ground and felt like I was dying. Rene called the ER. They mostly stitched me up and I was in a coma for 4 years. They were not able to arrest the guy who injured me. To be honest I really don’t care as long as no one else is hurt. And now I am in the hospital typing this.
