AllMovie

Long before the events of September 11, 2001, brought New York firefighters into the spotlight, the city's firemen were recognized and admired for their bravery. Answering more calls on a daily basis than any other fire department in America, the F.D.N.Y. is no stranger to meeting disasters with heroic actions. This documentary surveys the history of the fire department, and recalls some of its most courageous moments. Archival film footage and photographs chronicle the department's heroics, from building fires to airplane crashes, as firefighters put their lives on the line to save others. Interviews with firemen and the people they have rescued give the viewer insight into the character of those who have answered the altruistic call to serve and rescue the public, while risking their own safety.