1Prepare the background.

Start out with a sheet of 9" x 12" red construction paper for the picture's background.

2Sponge paint the top section.

To make a fiery background, prepare orange and yellow tempera or poster paint in shallow plates. Add some water and mix.

Dip a sponge brush or kitchen sponge in yellow paint. Sponge paint the top one-third portion of your paper.

3Sponge paint the middle section.

Clean the sponge then dip it in orange paint. Sponge paint the middle portion of the paper.

4Paint details at the bottom.

Paint some grass or a road at the bottom. Set the picture aside to dry.

5Create a fire truck.

Make a fire truck by doing either of these:

a.)  Draw a fire truck - draw and color your own fire truck. Cut out the paper truck.

a.)  Cut out shapes - cut various shapes from paper or craft foam to make the fire truck—a rectangle for the body, a front cabin, a window, and 2 circles for the wheels. Glue the shapes together.

6Glue the truck onto the picture.

Glue the fire truck onto the picture.

7Make a ladder.

Make a ladder out of drinking straws. Cut two long pieces (around 6 inches) and several short pieces (1 to 1½ inches).

Glue the two long pieces in a slanted position 1 to 1½ inches apart on top of the fire truck. Glue the short pieces between the two long ones to make the ladder's rungs.

8Create a fireman.

Draw and color one or more fire fighetrs. You can also print out any of these fireman printables:

• Fireman
• Fireman carrying a hose - part of a community helpers set (Set 2)

9Cut and glue the firemen.

Cut out the fire fighters and glue them onto the picture.

10Make a fire hose.

Cut a length of thick string or cord for the fire truck's water hose. Glue one end of the string at the back end of the fire truck and going towards the fireman figure. Position the hose in such a way that the fireman is holding it with his hands.

11Create a nozzle.

Cut and glue a short piece of drinking straw at the tip of the water hose to create a nozzle.