On December 10, 1926, Boston Fire Department Rescue Company 2 was organized in the Roxbury neighborhood and placed into service to provide specialized rescue capabilities to the growing city. Originally quartered with Ladder Company 4 on Dudley Street, Rescue 2 was formed from the former Foamite Unit 1 and quickly became one of Boston's premier specialty companies.
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Today, Rescue 2 operates from the Egleston Square Firehouse at 1870 Columbus Avenue in Roxbury, sharing quarters with Engine 42 and Division 2 headquarters. From this location, the company responds throughout Division 2 and is frequently assigned citywide to major emergencies. |
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Over nearly a century of service, Rescue 2 has answered countless fires, technical rescues, medical emergencies, entrapment's, building collapses, and special operations incidents. The company played a significant role in the response to the tragic Cocoanut Grove Fire in 1942, one of the deadliest nightclub fires in American history, which claimed 492 lives. Rescue 2 personnel were heavily involved in rescue and recovery operations during that disaster.
During Boston's busiest fire years from the 1960s through the early 1980s, Rescue 2 operated at a relentless pace. Members routinely responded to thousands of incidents annually, often handling multiple working fires during a single shift. Veterans of the era recall a department battling hundreds of serious fires each year while serving neighborhoods filled with densely packed wood-frame buildings.
In more recent history, Rescue 2 responded to several of Boston's most significant modern emergencies, including the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the 2014 Beacon Street flood. Their role continues to expand as specialized rescue techniques and equipment evolve.
Traditions and Brotherhood
Rescue 2's traditions are deeply rooted in Boston fire service culture. The company is known for its aggressive firefighting, technical expertise, and dedication to preserving the legacy established by generations of firefighters before them. Historical photographs show company mascots, vintage heavy rescue apparatus, and crews whose reputation helped shape the identity of Boston's rescue companies.
