Fire has shaped New York City’s skyline and has transformed its political and cultural landscape.
Historic Fires of New York City traverses the five boroughs, exploring the historic fires that have occurred since the very beginning of the metropolis.
Starting with bucket-wielding Dutch burghers and accelerating with the appointment of 35 “strong, able, discreet, honest and sober men,” the effort to bring order out of chaos has been a constant concern of the city for more than three centuries.
Donald J. Cannon is a professor of history at St. Peters College and the author of Heritage of Flames. Don teaches an online fire service course entitled "Fire in New York" through the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is an honorary FDNY deputy chief.