Dennis Smith's History of Firefighting in America: 300 Years of Courage

160 black-and-white illustrations, 16 pages of color Dennis Smith, firefighter and best-selling author of several books on firefighting, now turns to the history of firefighting in America, capturing the enthusiasm and dedication as well as the changes that have taken place in the attitudes of firefighters during the 370 years since America was colonized. In this vivid account, profusely illustrated with line art and photographs, Dennis Smith covers America's most notable fires, from the burning of the first colony at Jamestown in 1608 to the Beverly Hills Supper Club tragedy in Kentucky in 1977. His knowledgeable re-creation of such scenes as the Boston fires in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the burning of Washington during the War of 1812, the great Chicago fire of 1871, San Francisco during the earthquake, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1914, the Hartford circus fire in 1944, and many others dramatically brings to the reader the heroism, tragedy, and awe generated by these disasters. Smith assesses the historical context of the fires, tracing the development of firefighting equipment, fire protection legislation, and mutual insurance societies. He is concerned with individuals, and intersperses his narrative with vignettes describing firefighters' personal courage. This definitive account of firefighters in America is indispensable for history and fire buffs alike, as well as for Dennis Smith fans. Dennis Smith is the author of Report from Engine Co. 82, The Final Fire, and Firehouse, with photographs by Jill Friedman. He is a member of the N.Y.C.F.D. and editor of Firehouse Magazine. He and his wife and children live in New York City.------------------------------------------Retired New York City firefighter and bestselling writer Dennis Smith volunteered to help with rescue efforts shortly after the jets hit the towers at the World Trade Center. An 18-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department, and Founding editor of Firehouse Magazine, Smith arrived to find that many of New York's elite fire squads and many of his close friends were buried beneath the rubble.