May 2, 1951 – Company was organized in a new firehouse, briefly occupied by Engine Co. 11, at 1 Ashley Street , Orient Heights, East Boston. The company was assigned a new 1951 Ward LaFrance, Model 85T, 750gpm pumper, Serial # 2586, Shop # 177 , as a Single-unit. (G.O. 18)
May 9, 1951 – Company placed in active service. (G.O. 18). Engine Company 11 moved back to 761 Saratoga Street.
December 24, 1954 – Company received a 1948 American LaFrance ‘700 Series’ 750gpm pumper, Serial # L-3594, Shop # 134 , ex-Engine 34.
August 13, 1956 – Fire Lieutenant William Powers and Fire Fighters Edward Epstein, Nicholas Lepore and Thomas Danilchuk, Engine Company 56, were injured when the small boat they were operating in capsized. The company had been battling a fire at the Fireboat Engine 47’s former quarters on the pier at the foot of Lewis Street, East Boston.
July 1, 1961 – Ladder Company 21 moved into Engine 56’s quarters, from their former quarters at 761 Saratoga Street , East Boston.
July 15, 1968 – Company received a 1962 Ward LaFrance, Type 1150T, 1000gpm pumper, Serial # 62-4789, Shop # 136 , ex-Engine 24.
October 11, 1973 – The 1962 Ward LaFrance pumper, Shop # 136 , was converted to diesel operation.
September 8, 1976 – Company received a 1970 Hahn 1250gpm pumper, Serial # C12-39, Shop # 146 , ex-Engine 17.
January 27, 1985 – Company received a new 1985 Emergency One/Ford 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 3890, Shop # 107.
October 29, 1996 – Company received a new 1996 Emergency One ‘Cyclone II’ 1250gpm pumper, Serial # 16495, Shop # 142.
2013 – Fire Lieuternant Lorenzo S. Thompson, Citation , Fire Fighter Gabriel J. Clark, Citation and Fire Fighter Tyrance J. Corbett, Citation , Engine Company 56, were awarded the Roll Of Merit.
August 19, 2020 – Company received a new 2020 Emergency One ‘Typhoon’ pumper, 1250gpm, 560t/30f tank, Serial # 143210, Shop # 130.