Miss Maudie's House Fire

In the middle of the bitterly cold night, Miss Maudie's house catches fire. Atticus wakes the children and sends them to stand safely in front of the Radley Place. The town's fire truck is frozen and must be pushed; hoses burst. The fire spreads, threatening neighboring houses, including the Finches'. Mr. Avery gets stuck in a window but escapes with a fall into the shrubbery. The house collapses by dawn. Miss Maudie, surprisingly cheerful, says she always wanted a smaller house and more yard for her azaleas. She stays with Miss Stephanie Crawford. The fire brings the community together in a shared crisis.