January 3, 1870 – The Town of Dorchester was annexed to the City of Boston. J.H.
Upham Engine Company 6 of the Dorchester Fire Department became J.H. Upham Engine No. 21, and was located in a new firehouse on Boston Street. The company was equipped with an 1869 William Jeffers steam pumper, placed in service December 27, 1869.
November 21, 1872 – Company received a Self-Propelled 1867 Amoskeag Second Size steam engine, Serial # 263. The engine was used off and on until 1877 when it was converted to horse-drawn.
1873 – Company names discontinued, reverted back to numbered company only (Engine 21 – as it remains today).
1877 – Company once again was assigned the 1869 William Jeffers steam pumper, originally place in service with Engine 21 on December 27, 1869.
December 10, 1893 – Company received a new 1893 Clapp & Jones Third Size steam engine, Serial # 2251.
January 12, 1916 – Company received a 1916 Christie Front-Drive 2-wheel motor tractor, attached to an 1870 Amoskeag steam engine, Serial # 350, Shop # 110T.
May 19, 1916 – Captain Michael Norton, Engine Company 21, was profiled in a Boston Globe article. Newspaper story
February 15, 1917 – Company received a new 1917 Seagrave motor Hose & Chemical Wagon, Serial # 16322, Shop # 313.
October 16, 1924 – Company received a new 1924 American LaFrance, Type 85, 750gpm motor pumper, Serial # 4855, Shop # 167.
July 18, 1925 – The firehouse was closed for reconstruction. Engine 21’s wagon was quartered with Engine 43 at Andrew Square, South Boston. Engine 21’s pumper was quartered with Engine 17 on Meeting House Hill in Dorchester.
February 17, 1926 – The newly constructed firehouse at 641 Columbia Road was opened. Engine 21’s wagon and pumper moved in from the temporary quarters with Engine 43 and Engine 17, respectively.
October 19, 1929 – Company received a new 1929 American LaFrance, Type 112, Hose & Booster Wagon, Serial # 6665, Shop # 367.
August 21, 1935 – Hoseman Francis F. Parkes, Engine Company 21, collapsed and died in the Line-Of-Duty after working at a dump fire off Savin Hill Court, Dorchester.
March, 1945 – Company received a new 1945 American LaFrance, ‘600 Series’, 1000gpm pumper, Serial # 8217, Shop # 101.
November 3, 1948 – Company received a new 1948 Maxim, ‘Model 2417’, 750gpm pumper, Serial # 1665, Shop # 135.
February 17, 1949 – Company received a new 1949 FWD Hose & Booster Wagon, Serial # 114949, Shop # 312.
August 3, 1954 – Company changed from Double-unit to Single-unit operation.
1956 – Fire Fighter Raymond M. McDonough, Engine Company 21, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
1957 – Company received a 1947 Mack, Type 19, 1000gpm pumper, Serial # 19LS-1064, Shop # 138.
July 9, 1962 – Company received a new 1962 Ward LaFrance, ‘Model 1120T’, 1000gpm pumper, Serial # 62-4788, Shop # 132.
1962 – Fire Lieutenant Richard P. McCormick, Engine Company 21, was awarded the Patrick J. Kennedy Medal of Honor, for his actions at 90 Mt. Vernon Street, Dorchester, on January 15, 1962. Citation for Fire Lieutenant McCormick
1963 – Fire Lieutenant Leo J. Fama, Engine Company 21, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
1964 – Fire Lieutenant Leo J. Fama, Engine Company 21, was awarded the John E. Fitzgerald Medal for the Most Meritorious Act of 1964, for his actions at 6-8 Sumner Place, Roxbury, on February 19, 1964. Citation for Fire Lieutenant Leo J. Fama.
1967 – Fire Fighter Arthur E. Hutchinson, Engine Company 21, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
July 12, 1968 – Company received a new 1968 Ward LaFrance, ‘Model P80’, 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 80-242, Shop # 168.
June 30, 1970 – Company received a new 1970 Hahn, 1250gpm pumper, Serial # C12-31, Shop # 111.
1971 – Fire Fighter Thomas F. Myers, Engine Company 21, was awarded the Walter Scott Medal for Valor, for his actions at Box 1771 on September 19, 1971.
Citation for Fire Fighter Thomas F. Myers.
1971 – Fire Fighter Harold R. Donovan, Engine Company 21, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
August 23, 1973 – Company received a new 1973 Maxim, 1500gpm pumper, Serial # 3134, Shop # 175.
1977 – Fire Fighter John J. Harrison and Fire Fighter Thomas F. Myers, Engine Company 21, were awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
1978 – Fire Fighter Thomas E. Bernhard and Fire Fighter John E. McNally, Engine Company 21, were awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
1980 – Fire Fighter John J. Harrison, Engine Company 21, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation
1982 – Fire Lieutenant Anthony J. Orlando, Engine Company 21, was awarded the John E. Fitzgerald Medal for the Most Meritorious Act of 1982, for his actions at 795 Columbia Road, Dorchester, on July 1, 1982. Citation for Fire Lieutenant Orlando.
February 4, 1985 – Company received a new 1985 Emergency One/Ford, 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 3898, Shop # 115.
1989 – Fire Fighter Robert M. Staunton, Engine Company 21, was awarded the John E. Fitzgerald Medal for the Most Meritorious Act of 1989, for his actions at 231 Geneva Avenue, Dorchester, on January 6, 1989. Citation for Fire Fighter Robert M. Staunton.
July 24, 1995 – Company received a new 1995 Emergency One ‘Protector’, 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 14872, Shop # 141.
2000 – Fire Lieutenant William G. Austin, Engine Company 21, was awarded the John E. Fitzgerald Medal for the Most Meritorious Act of 2000, for his actions at 230 Boston Street, Dorchester, on March 20, 2000. Citation for Fire Lieutenant William G. Austin.
2006 – Fire Lieutenant Neal A. Mullane, Engine Company 21, was awarded the 2006 Gerard J. Molito Award for Professional Excellence. Citation
2009 – Fire Fighter Michael J. McCarthy, Engine Company 21, was awarded the Roll Of Merit.
March 6, 2010 – Company received a new 2009 Emergency One ‘Cyclone II’, 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 135432, Shop # 173.
2010 – Fire Fighter Patrick F. Foley, Engine Company 21, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Citation
2010 – Fire Fighter Daniel J. Magoon, Engine Company 21, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Citation
2013 – Fire Fighter Patrick F. Foley, Engine Company 21, was awarded the Patrick J. Kennedy Medal of Honor for his actions on Boylston St., Back Bay, on April 15, 2013.
Citation for Fire Fighter Patrick F. Foley.
September 14, 2017 – Company received a new 2022 Emergency One ‘Typhoon’ pumper, 1250gpm, 560g/30f tank, Serial # 141070, Shop # 118.
2018 – Fire Fighter Patrick S. Callahan, Engine Company 21, was awarded the John E. Fitzgerald Medal for the Most Meritorious Act of 2018 for his actions on Woodward Park, Roxbury, on May 30, 2018. Citation for Fire Fighter Patrick S. Callahan.
2018 – Fire Fighter Stephen P. Simpson, Engine Company 21, was awarded the Walter Scott Medal of Valor for his actions on Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester, on May 1, 2018.
Citation for Fire Fighter Stephen P. Simpson.
2018 – Fire Lieutenant William L. Miller was awarded the Roll of Merit. Citation
2019 – Four members of Engine Company 21, Fire Lieutenant James Colvin and Fire Fighters Matt Nelson, Rod MacKinnon and Michael Ball were awarded the Commissioner’s Unit Citation for their actions on Von Hillern Street, South Boston, on July 25, 2019. Citation
November 7, 2022 – Company received a new 2022 Emergency One ‘Typhoon’ pumper, 1250gpm, 560g/30f tank, Serial # 145009, Shop # 134.