FDNY firefighters are known for their bravery on the fireground, but many have also made a lasting impact as authors. Drawing from decades of intense, firsthand experience, these firefighters have written some of the most compelling books about life in the fire service, from gritty memoirs and emotional 9/11 accounts to practical training guides and reflections on leadership.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration, insight or a deeper connection to the job, the following books written by FDNY members offer valuable lessons from those who’ve truly lived it.
‘Report from Engine Company 82'
‘Report from Ground Zero’
‘A Distant Fire: A History of FDNY Heroes’
‘Rescue Squad: The Origins of Rescue Co.1, Fire Department City of New York 1915 - 1925'
‘First In, Last Out: Leadership Lessons from the New York Fire Department’
‘Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11'
‘The Last Men Out: Life on the Edge at Rescue 2 Firehouse’
‘Women at Ground Zero: Stories of Courage and Compassion’
Additional reads:
- “Five Floors Up: The Heroic Family Story of Four Generations in the FDNY”: “Five Floors Up” tells the story of the FDNY through four generations of the Feehan family, highlighting the life and legacy of Chief William Feehan, the only person to hold every rank in the department, who died on 9/11.
- “Last Man Down: A Firefighter’s Story of Survival and Escape from the World Trade Center”: On September 11, 2001, FDNY Battalion Chief Richard “Pitch” Picciotto answered the call heard around the world. In minutes, he was at Ground Zero of the worst terrorist attack on American soil, as the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center began to burn, and then to buckle.
- “The War Years”: Captain Bob Farrell, a decorated FDNY veteran, shares firsthand accounts from the department’s “War Years” in the late 1960s and 1970s, when Ladder 31 and Engine 82 were among the city’s busiest companies.
What are your favorite books by FDNY authors? Drop your selections below: