Perspective

Dennis Smith is a firefighter in the rough South Bronx section of New York City. He has written his book, REPORT FROM FIRE ENGINE CO. 82 in the first person and with the authority of an actual firefighter. When the story was written, Dennis Smith was a veteran firefighter of almost ten years. He was an active, 30-year-old who was dedicated and committed to serving the typically unappreciative people of the South Bronx.

Smith writes the story from his viewpoint. He is a strong, tough experienced firefighter who serves a community that is poverty stricken and populated with minorities. Perhaps it is his youth that keeps some cynicism at bay. Although he has been hit with stones thrown by kids as he rushes to saves lives and property, he has empathy for the poor people of the South Bronx. Much of his understanding of these people no doubt stems...