New book delves into the history of firefighting in one New York department

VIDEO: A new book is diving deep into the history of the Albany Fire Department. It’s called “The Firehouses of Albany,” and it traces the history of firefighting in the city as told through its buildings and fire companies. The author is city historian Tony Opalka. He explained to NEWS10 the role animals played in the early days of the fire department. “The first animals were the workhorses,” he said. “Then the cats and dogs and the horses themselves even became sort of pets to the men. They took care of them; they fed them. The horses had different personalities, so they really became part of the story of the fire department.” “The Firehouses of Albany” is available for purchase at the Albany Firefighters Museum and on Amazon.

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