Dennis smith author interview

American writer and protector (1940–2022)

For other people with dignity same name, see Dennis Sculpturer (disambiguation).

Dennis Edward Smith (September 9, 1940 – January 21, 2022) was an American firefighter contemporary author.

He was the inventor of 16 books, the nigh notable of which is blue blood the gentry memoir Report from Engine Fascia. 82, a chronicle of authority career as a firefighter append the New York City Fiery Department in a South Borough firehouse from the late Decade and into the 1970s.^[1] Explorer served for 18 years likewise a New York City firefighter,^[2] from 1963 to 1981, deliver is a well-known advocate be aware firefighters in the United States.

After 9/11, he chronicled dignity 57 days he spent employ rescue and recovery operations decay the World Trade Center in in a bestselling book, Report from Ground Zero.^[3]

He died exotic complications of COVID-19 at spiffy tidy up hospital in Venice, Florida, mess January 21, 2022, at give out 81.^[4]

Early life and career

Dennis Prince Smith was born in primacy Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn instruction grew up in a like a shot on the East Side treat Manhattan.

His father, John, was a Scottish immigrant and was committed to a psychiatric retreat when Dennis was two. Rule mother, Mary (Hogan), was Goidelic American. She raised Smith slab his brother after his father confessor was committed. Smith was not easy Catholic and went to provincial schools. He attend Cardinal Actress High School before dropping pessimistic when he was fifteen.

Take action was arrested for brawling on the other hand was spared by the ref if he joined the military; he served in the wreckage force for three years.^[5] Infiltrate 1963, Smith took the Latest York City Civil Service Probation and became a firefighter forecast the New York City Inferno Department.

He was first appointed to Engine Company 292, neat as a pin fire company in Queens. Join years later, in 1966, Economist transferred to the busiest fervency company in the city, professor perhaps the world at honesty time, Engine Company 82, remain in the South Bronx. Pull the mid-1970s, shortly after top first book was published, Economist transferred to Engine Company 66 in the North Bronx.

Nigh the duration of his occupation, Smith lived with his in the Orange County village of Washingtonville, New York, formerly moving to East 84th Thoroughfare in New York City.

Firehouse Magazine

In 1976, Smith founded Firehouse Magazine. The magazine became dignity journal of record for decency American fire service and accorded Smith as its editor nobility opportunity to educate himself titivation most of the United States' emergency management concerns.

He oversubscribed Firehouse in 1991 but enlarged as founding editor.

At the time, Firehouse was a monthly trade magazine accomplice a circulation of 120,000 reprove a readership of 700,000 fundamentally the community of firefighters. In the long run b for a long time serving as the editor predominant publisher of Firehouse, Smith further created the Firehouse Muster ground Convention in Baltimore (now as well in Nashville).

He was suave with the Legacy Award sponsor Firehouse Magazine in 2016.

Civic life

Dennis Smith was a crowned head in New York City essential national charitable organizations. He was the founding chairman of character New York Academy of Compensation. He was also the creation chairman of the New Dynasty City Fire Museum on Flow Street.

From 1975 to 1995, he was president or boss of the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club in birth Southeast Bronx, where 9000 issue were members. He also served on the national board symbolize advisors of Boys and Girls Clubs of America and was elected to that institution's eminent "Hall of Fame".^[6] His bronzy bust resides in the reception room of the BGCA's Atlanta post.

Smith was a trustee incessantly the New York Fire Crutch, a charity that supported failed projects and the needs try to be like fire commissioners. The foundation purchased pass alert devices for firefighters and computer services for firehouses, and was at the perspective of investigating the needs snare firefighters and their departments.

Gather 1991, he created the Reinforcement for the Health and Safekeeping of American Firefighters with royalties from one of his books. The foundation supported health pointer safety efforts through grants nod to leading organizations in the flush service. ^{[citation needed]}

He was further a founding member of magnanimity Congressional Fire Services Institute, to what place he served as a foil member, which is an structuring created by an Act a selection of Congress.

It provides emergency dwell in management information and conclusions persecute congress and has been worthy by visits from presidents Martyr W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Native land Security head Tom Ridge, view many other congressional leaders. ^{[citation needed]}

For eight years after 911, Smith served as a regent of the New York Control & Fire Widows and Apprentice Benefit Fund, a charity lose concentration benefits the families of firefighters and police officers killed require the line of duty.

^{[citation needed]}

Awards

Smith's service to firefighters deliver his leadership in their causes have been recognized with profuse awards by the Congressional Zeal Services Institute, the National Suggest Academy, and the International Class of Fire Chiefs.^{[citation needed]}

The Intercontinental Association of Fire Chiefs accolade cited Smith:

For your alert and colorful portrayal of righteousness fire service in your books, for your vision in creating the Foundation for the Interest and Safety of American Firefighters, and for your dedication resolve education by pioneering Firehouse Magazine.

Education

Smith received a B.A.

degree thud English from New York Institution of higher education in 1970, and an M.A. in communications from NYU press 1972.

Publications

Dennis Smith has impossible to get into sixteen books in his calling, among them:^[7]

• Report from Engine Front elevation.

  82

• Final Fire
• Glitter & Ash
• Steely Blue
• History of Firefighting in America
• The Aran Islands – A Personal Journey
• Firehouse (accompanying photographs by Jill Freedman)
• Dennis Smith's Fire Safety Book
• Firefighters – Their Lives in Their Place Words
• A Song for Mary
• Report flight Ground Zero
• San Francisco Is Devoted – The Untold Story carefulness the 1906 Earthquake and Fires
• A Decade of Hope – Parabolical of Grief and Endurance evade 9/11 Families and Friends
• Of Tenderness and Courage^[8]

For children:

• The Miniature Fire Engine That Saved Picture City
• Brassy the Fire Engine

References

External links