Dennis Smith, a retired FDNY firefighter who authored “Report from Engine Co. 82” and founded Firehouse Magazine, died at the age of 81 on Jan. 21, 2022.
“Dennis’ contribution to the fire service as an innovator, author, publisher and supporter of the worldwide service spanned five decades before his death and will continue for decades to come,” Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews says. “The ability for Dennis to share life-saving techniques to firefighters across the country and share the stories of firefighters around the world has impacted tens of thousands of firefighters.”
How it all began
Smith grew up in Manhattan and began his 18-year career with FDNY at Engine 292 in Queens and then transferred to the infamous Engine 82 in the South Bronx. That assignment became the material for his 1972 book, “Report from Engine Co. 82,” which told the tale of FDNY's busiest fire station during the War Years. The book sold more than 3 million copies and was translated into more than a dozen languages.
A few years later, Smith saw an opportunity and seized it.
“I saw nothing in the (other trade magazines) that related to my work as a firefighter,” Smith said, which lead him to create Firehouse Magazine.
In 1976, Smith teamed up with then-advertising director Bruce Bowling to begin publishing Firehouse, a bimonthly magazine with coverage that included incident reports, strategy and tactics, leadership, firefighter lifestyles, legal and political issues and history of the fire service.
Smith is survived by three sons, two daughters, 11 grandchildren, and a large family of firefighters and fans who were touched by his books and magazine.
