Then, he joined the fire department -- just like that, on a lark.

In "Working Fire," which was published earlier this month by Penguin Press, Unger offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the Oakland firefighting system, as well as a personal journey of discovery -- both of the city he grew up in and himself.

"Oakland is a diverse and fascinating city -- it makes you earn its affection," Unger said Wednesday from a payphone in Denver, where he gave a talk about his new book.

There's more to the city than the hills neighborhoods, he explains. There are the cultural events in Fruitvale, the rough and tumble life of the flatlands. As a firefighter, he had a chance to explore parts of the city he might never have ventured into, he said.

Over the last six years, since he joined the department after seeing an employment ad on a bus stop, Unger said he's noticed a lot of positive changes in his hometown.

"People aren't afraid of Oakland anymore," he wrote in his book.

He never meant to write a book about his job, Unger said. A graduate of Deep Springs College and Brown University, Unger went on to UC Berkeley for a master's degree -- but he shuffled from job to job, he writes. He's done everything from monitor falcons to driving a muffin delivery truck.

He joined the Oakland fire system on a lark, he said, and hasn't looked back. Now, with a wife and two children, the Berkeley resident plans to continue firefighting for years to come -- while also taking advantage of off-days to write. He's working on a novel at the moment and is tinkering with the idea of writing a book about the 1991 Oakland hills firestorm.

In "Working Fire," Unger offers an insider's view into the fire houses. But knowing that he wanted to stick around for the next 20 years, Unger changed the names of characters in his memoir -- setting off a guessing game throughout the department.

His peers call him and ask whether they're actually the characters portrayed, he said.

"All the guys who've read it have been impressed," Unger said. "They like the fact that I tell it like it is -- I sort of immortalized what we do in a way."

Indeed -- the book offers accounts of everything from fighting fires to station-house cooking to social services that often get overlooked on a firefighter's resume.

In the course of his firefighting career, and his new writing career, Unger, 30, said he's discovered a few surprises about himself. He likes the social services part of firefighting, he said -- the helping people on the street.

As a firefighter, you get involved in the local community surrounding your fire station and establish relationships with neighbors, he said. Currently, he's working at the station in Chinatown, Unger said.

"Working Fire" has met stellar reviews from authors and critics alike, and Unger said he's having a great time traveling around the Western United States for his book tour. He was set to return to Oakland this week and plans to offer another book talk April 1 at Montclair's A Great Good Place for Books.

"I can't wait to come home," he said.

The Montclarion
Mike Adamick, Staff Writer
(510) 339-4061
madamick@cctimes.com Email