In the South Bronx during the 1960s and 70s, unscrupulous landlords and their torch-men set in motion a murderous wave of arson-for-profit, driving hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and injuring, maiming, and killing thousands more—including firefighters. Yet New York’s mayor consistently refuses to give the fire department the manpower it needs to investigate the arson, and thousands of suspicious fires go uninvestigated.

Jackie Mulligan and his brother firefighters stand up to the heartless evil of the slumlords by demanding that the mayor take action. But when the mayor refuses, Mulligan and his men take a stand against the arsonists, putting their jobs—and their lives—on the line. For Mulligan, the fight has become personal.

And there will be only one winner.