Report from Engine Co. 82 is the story of one company of New York firefighters battling unimaginable death and destruction every day.
Dennis Smith worked as a firefighter in the South Bronx of New York City, and the graphic detail and gripping prose of this firefighting classic drives the most important, accomplished, terrifying book ever published on firefighting. With over two million copies in print, this book struck a nerve within the nation when it was first published thirty years ago. In our troubled times, it gains even greater resonance for those trying to make sense of the deaths of so many New York firefighters on September 11 and for those inspired by the tireless work of firefighters and other rescue personnel in the aftermath of the destruction. Dennis Smith describes the bravery, heroism, camaraderie, and unflinching courage of New York's bravest, demonstrating how firefighters everywhere have become the most respected of American heroes.
Little boys often dream of becoming firefighters, picturing themselves as the heroes who put out fires, save lives, and rescue stranded cats. This 1972 book by Dennis Smith, author of REPORT FROM GROUND ZERO, removes the glamour, while demonstrating the challenges facing Smith and his fellow firefighters in New York City, where most alarms are false. Lloyd James sounds like a firefighter. His voice has enough roughness to convince the listener that he's ready to do battle every time the alarm bell rings; James's emotions seem to ebb and flow with the book's events. Unfortunately, this abridgment leaves the listener wondering what parts of the story are missing. D.J.S. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine
About the Author
DENNIS SMITH is a retired New York City firefighter. He stayed in the Fire Department an additional 19 years after the success of his first book, Report from Engine Co. 82. He is the author of 11 books including three otherbestsellers about firefighting. Smith founded Firehouse Magazine and has become an outstanding spokesman for firefighters nationwide.
