Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1670743 in Books
• Published on: 2002-01-15
• Format: Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Binding: Audio CD

From AudioFile
Dennis Smith was ahead of his time, writing about the life of a group of hardworking fire- fighters before reality TV became a national pastime. His words and experiences are paired well with this reading by native New Yorker Adam Henderson. Henderson renders the struggles, camaraderie, and devotion of these hard-talking, working-class men as they fight fires in one of the worst neighborhoods in New York City in the 1970s. Henderson's performance transports listeners to the scene of each fire. A perfect choice of reader. H.L.S. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review
In 1972, Emergency, a show about the Los Angeles Fire Department, debuted on network TV. That same year, Smith, a New York City fireman, published this book about life in what was the busiest fire station in the country. It is the diary of a fireman in a station with over 700 calls per month. From the life and death heroics of firefighting to the frustration of false alarms and garbage fires, Smith ably shares his life at Engine Co. 82. Written during a period of civil unrest, the work captures the spirit of that time and shows how the social problems of the era affected the lives of the firemen whose duty was to protect all the citizens in their district. The author paints a portrait of the fire house: the drills, the off-color jokes, the male-bonding that occurs when men know their lives will often be in the hands of their buddies. Adam Henderson does a great job with the various New York City accents. Highly recommended for all public libraries.-Theresa Connors, Arkansas Tech Univ., Russellville (Library Journal )

Ingram
A former fireman in the world's busiest firehouse gives a vivid day-to-day account of the challenging events, including the raging fires and fighting a fire in the freezing cold, that he faced during his years of service.