May 18, 1891 – Company organized, with Engine 38 (as a Second Section), at a new firehouse at 344 Congress Street, South Boston. Engines 39 & 38 operated as separate units, with separate Running Cards, but assigned only one captain and one lieutenant. The company was assigned a 1879 Amoskeag Second-Size steam pumper, Serial # 534, ex-Engine 4.
See General Order # 350, issued May 16, 1891. General Order # 350.
June, 1895 – Company received a 1890 Clapp & Jones First Size steam pumper, Serial # 549, ex-Engine 38.
February 5, 1898 – Five members of Engine 38/39 died in the Line-Of-Duty at the Bent Bedding Co. fire at 116 Merrimac St., Downtown, Box 412, 3 alarms, the ‘Merrimac Street Fire‘. They were:
- Captain James H. Victory
- Lieutenant George J. Gottwald
- Hoseman Patrick H. Disken
- Hoseman John J. Mulhern
- Hoseman William J. Welch
December 25, 1914 – Hoseman Thomas W. Devney, Engine Company 38/39, died in the Line-Of-Duty.
June 14, 1901 – Company received a new 1901 Amoskeag First Size steam pumper, Serial # 761, built by the Manchester, NH, Locomotive Works.
April 12, 1908 – The ‘First’ Great Fire in Chelsea occurred. Engine 39 was among 14 engine companies, 2 ladder companies and a fireboat sent by Boston on Mutual Aid to Chelsea. The fire consumed 492 acres of land and destroyed 2822 buildings before being extinguished. Companies sent to Chelsea were: Engines Companies 6, 5, 11, 36, 27, 39, 26, 8, 10, 33, 9, 40, 4, 15; Ladder Companies 21, 22; Fireboat Engine 44.
June 25, 1914 – A conflagration occurred in Salem, Mass., the ‘Great Salem Fire’. Engine 39’s horse-drawn steamer and hose wagon are sent to the fire via flatbed rail car from North Station, along with Engines 6, 8, 26, 27.
1915 – The 1901 Amoskeag steam pumper, Serial # 761, was rebuilt by the American British Co.
May 17, 1916 – Captain James J. Caine, Engine Company 38/39, was profiled in a Boston Globe article. Newspaper story
May 10, 1917 – Company received a 1917 Christie Front-Drive two-wheel tractor, Shop # 117T, attached to the 1901 Amoskeag steam pumper, Serial # 761.
September 27, 1917 – Company received a new 1917 Seagrave Combination Hose & Chemical Wagon, Serial #321, replacing the horse-drawn hose wagon.
October 14, 1924 – Company received a new 1924 American LaFrance, Type 75, 750gpm pumper, Serial # 4856, Shop # 165.
October 18, 1929 – Company received a new 1929 American LaFrance, Type 112, Hose & Booster Wagon, Serial # 6668, Shop # 370.
May 17, 1937 – Captain Richard S. Humphreys, Engine Company 39, died in the Line-Of-Duty at 308-312 Congress Street, South Boston, 4 alarms, Box 7115.
November 28, 1942 – Engine Company 39 responded to the Cocoanut Grove Fire at 17 Piedmont Street, Downtown. See Engine 39’s Station Log Book for the response entry. Station Log Book
October 22, 1946 – Provisional Military Substitute Patrick J. Cady, Engine Co. 39, is one of three firemen who died in the Line-Of-Duty at Box 1463, 70 Chauncy St., Downtown. Lieutenant James F. Flahive, Rescue Co. 1, suffered severe brain injuries from which he never fully recovered, expiring 28 years later, on March 6, 1974.
February 4, 1947 – Engine 38, quartered with Engine 39, was deactivated.
May 22, 1947 – Company received a 1943 Seagrave 750gpm pumper, on loan from the U.S. Navy, Serial # 5830, Shop # 114.
May 12, 1948 – Company received a new 1948 Ward LaFrance, Type 85T, 750gpm pumper, Serial # 48-2323, Shop # 106.The 1943 Seagrave pumper, Shop # 114, was returned to the U.S. Navy.
May 27, 1949 – Company received a 1931 American LaFrance Hose & Booster Wagon, Serial # 7378, Shop # 388, ex-Engine 25.
November 26, 1956 – Company changed to a Single-Double unit.
November 17, 1953 – Ladder Company 18 moved into Engine 39’s quarters, from their former quarters at 9 Pittsburgh Street, South Boston, about 100 yards away.
August, 1954 – Company received a 1949 FWD Hose & Booster Wagon, Serial # 114949, Shop # 312, ex-Engine 21.
November 26, 1956 – Company changed from Double-unit to Combination Single/Double-unit operation. The 1948 Ward LaFrance pumper, Shop # 106, was equipped for Single-unit operation, but the company continued to operate with a hose wagon.
July 12, 1962 – Company received a new 1962 Ward LaFrance, Type 1150T, 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 62-4786, Shop # 108.
1965 – Fire Fighter Charles L. Stokinger, Engine Company 39, was awarded the Patrick J. Kennedy Medal of Honor, for actions taken on East First Street, South Boston, on April 29, 1965.
Citation for Fire Fighter Stokinger
1968 – Company received a 1947 Mack, Type 19, 1000gpm pumper, Serial # 19LS-1065, Shop # 151, ex-Engine 13, in service as the hose wagon.
1970 – The 1949 FWD Hose Wagon, Shop # 312, was again in service at Engine 39.
July 15, 1971 – Company received a new 1971 Hahn 1500gpm pumper, Serial # C15-16, Shop # 156. The 1962 Ward LaFrance pumper, Shop # 108, was assigned to operate as the hose wagon.
1971 – Fire Fighter James E. France and Fire Fighter John J. McKenna, Engine Company 39, were awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
April 22, 1977 – Company moved into a new firehouse at 272 D Street, South Boston, along with Engine Company 1 and Ladder Company 18. The firehouse at 344 Congress Street, South Boston, was permanently closed.
April 23, 1977 – Company received a 1972 Ford/Maxim Squrt Hose Wagon, Serial # C75FVG-31220, Shop # 402, ex-Engine 17.
September 7, 1979 – The 1972 Ford/Maxim Squrt Wagon, Shop # 402, was returned to service painted lime-green.
May 21, 1983 – The company began operating as a Single-unit, with the Squrt Wagon kept in reserve, for Special Call if needed.
July 14, 1984 – Company received a new 1984 Emergency One/Ford 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 3756, Shop # 100.
1992 – Fire Fighter James L. Berlo and Fire Fighter (Aide to the District Chief) Daniel F. Robishaw, Engine Company 39, were awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
June 21, 1993 – Company received a new 1993 Emergency One ‘Protector’ 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 12468, Shop # 133.
1998 – Fire Fighter Kenneth Jones, Engine Company 39, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Citation
2005 – Fire Fighter Sheila A. Leahy Cronin, Engine Company 39, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Citation
2006 – Fire Fighter John J. Nee, Engine Company 39, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Citation
August 18, 2008 – Company received a new 2008 Emergency One ‘Cyclone II’ 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 134061, Shop # 170.
2017 – Fire Captain Jonathan M. Hernandez, Engine Company 39, was among a group of firefighters who were awarded the Fire Commissioner’s Community Service Award for their work on ‘The Burn Foundation’. Citation
2018 – Fire Fighter Michael J. Szwanke, Engine Company 39, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Citation
2020 – Fire Fighter Paul Lombard, Engine Company 39, was awarded the Roll of Merit for his actions at 163 Orton Marotta Way, South Boston, on November 25, 2020. Citation