New York City Firefighting, 1901-2001 (NY) (Images of America) [Paperback]

Steven Scher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 2002

The story of firefighting in New York City is one of danger, tradition, pride, excitement, and tragedy. It is also the story of man's triumph over destructive forces. From the gaslight days of horse-drawn steam engines to the World Trade Center tragedy of 2001, the heroic men and women who make up the city's most dynamic public service have risked and often lost their lives in order to protect and serve the people of New York City.

New York City Firefighting: 1901-2001 chronicles the proudest fire department in America. The proximity of buildings in the city streets and the construction materials made each fire especially dangerous, but determined firefighters never hesitated to battle the flames and rescue the victims. Later, facing unprecedented heights and unparalleled danger, firefighters in New York City were called upon to battle infernos in the first skyscrapers, often using the most rudimentary equipment and barely protected from the flames. In its most trying moments, the Fire Department of New York responded to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 1993 and 2001, dutifully rushing into the towers to save as many lives as possible and ultimately losing hundreds of their own.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Exciting, compelling and historically important as any book of photographs published I have seen in a decade.

-Dennis Smith -- personal email

Wonderful tribute to the FDNY.Shows your compassion, concern for the FDNY. -Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor, City of New York -- personal letter to author, 3-28-02

About the Author

Author and photographer Steven Scher was born and raised in the Bronx. He has been photographing fires and firefighters for forty years. He served as a fire alarm dispatcher for the FDNY and was its deputy press secretary. A photographer for Mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins and an honorary deputy chief, Scher has written numerous articles on the history of the fire department.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (March 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738509884
• ISBN-13: 978-0738509884
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #920,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scher does it again!!, January 27, 2003

By 

Gary R. Urbanowicz "Gary Urbanowicz 'FDNY His... (Cortlandt Manor, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New York City Firefighting, 1901-2001 (NY) (Images of America) (Paperback)

Many years ago Steve put out one of the first pictorial/real photo books ("FIRE!") on the FDNY and it has become a classic. Now, he does it again but this time he captures a full century of history. I know someone who likes to say "History is never more fascinating than when it's read from the day it was reported." Steve has adapted this expression to photographs. For anyone who has an interest in the FDNY, whether you are a tried and true old buff or a post-9/11 admirer, this book is a must!!