Rescue Squad: The Origins of Rescue Co. 1 Fire Deptartment City of New York 1915-1925

by Paul F. Hashagen

The men of the original Rescue Company 1 saved countless FDNY firemen and NY City citizens from serious injury and death. How did they do what they did? In this book are the true stories of the original members and those that followed, as they set the standard for modern rescue work. A direct line can be drawn from these men, their smoke helmets and the small cache of tools available to them in 1915, to the present-day technical and heavy rescue companies. Theirs is quite a tale to tell. Paul Hashagen, the author of numerous books on Fire History, is honored to continue to tell their story.

310 pages, Paperback

Published November 4, 2024

Reviews

[Elenaharlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul F. Hashagen doesn’t just document history in *Rescue Squad: The Origins of Rescue Co. 1' he reconstructs it with a kind of reverence that feels earned rather than imposed. From the opening pages, there’s a quiet intensity to the storytelling, as if you’re standing just outside the frame of early 20th-century New York, watching a new kind of heroism take shape in real time.

What makes this book compelling isn’t only the subject matter though the birth of modern technical rescue is inherently fascinating but the way Hashagen captures the human dimension behind it. These weren’t polished units equipped with today’s technology; they were men improvising with limited tools, guided more by instinct and grit than protocol. And yet, out of that rough beginning came a legacy that still defines rescue operations today.

The prose is steady and respectful, never sensationalized. Instead of dramatizing events, Hashagen lets the weight of the stories speak for themselves. You get a sense of continuity how the courage and ingenuity of those early firefighters ripple forward into the present day. It’s not nostalgia; it’s lineage.

At times, the narrative leans more informational than emotional, but even then, there’s a quiet admiration woven into the details. You feel the author’s deep connection to the subject, not as a distant historian but as someone entrusted with preserving a legacy.

This is a book that rewards patience. It’s not about quick thrills, it’s about understanding how something foundational was built, piece by piece, sacrifice by sacrifice. By the end, you don’t just know the story of Rescue Company 1 you respect it.

[Chris Shadburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really in depth story of the origins of the rescue company.