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You are here: Home / Fire Companies / Ladder Co. 15 (Fire Companies)

Ladder Co. 15 (Fire Companies)

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February 20, 1888 – Company was organized at a new firehouse at 941 Boylston Street , Back Bay, along with Engine Company 33. Ladder 15 was assigned a new 1888 Babcock aerial ladder truck, the first 3-horse hitch used in Boston.

General Order #296, dated February 18, 1888, announced the establishment of Ladder Company 15. General Order #296.

January 4, 1915 – The horse-drawn aerial ladder truck was replaced by a new 1915 Robinson motor tractor, Shop # 206T , attached to the 1888 Babcock 85ft aerial ladder trailer.

April 18, 1917 – Company received a new 1917 Christie 2-wheel front-drive motor tractor, Shop # 220T , attached to a 1911 American LaFrance 85ft aerial ladder trailer.

May 22, 1922 – Company received a 1919 American LaFrance, Type 31, 85ft aerial ladder truck, with tiller, Serial # 2803-C238, Shop # 226.

September 28, 1922 – Captain William C. Swan, Ladder Company 15, died in the Line-Of-Duty returning from a fire at 25-27 Holyoke Street, South End, Box 1552.

photoloddswan1922

1927 – Ladderman Gilbert W. Jones, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Walter Scott Medal For Valor and the Roll Of Merit for his actions at Boston Arena on April 29, 1927.
Citiation for Ladderman Jones

November 19, 1928 – Company received a new 1928 American LaFrance, Type 17, 85ft tiller aerial ladder truck, Serial # 6406-C473, Shop # 253.

1944 – Company received a 1936 Seagrave, V12, 85ft tiller aerial ladder truck, with 100gal. booster, Serial # 82000, Shop # 264.

November 3, 1949 – Company received a new 1949 Pirsch ‘Hydromechanical’ 85ft tiller aerial ladder truck, with 150gal. booster, Serial # 1869, Shop # 276.

May 9, 1957 – Company received a new 1957 Seagrave, ‘Model 900T’, 100ft aerial ladder truck, Serial # J7505, Shop # 281.

1959 – Fire Fighter James L. Fitzgibbons, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

January 23, 1961 – Fire Fighter Richard F. Concannon, Ladder Company 15, died in the Line-Of-Duty at a fire at 31 Marlborough Street, Back Bay, Box 1537.
photoloddconcannon1961

1961 – Fire Fighter Joseph A. Desmond, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

1964 – Fire Lieutenant John E. Campbell, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Walter Scott Medal for Valor for his actions at 348 Commonwealth Avenue, Back Bay, Box 1584, on March 23, 1964. Citation for Fire Lieutenant Campbell

1964 – Fire Fighter Robert F. Murphy, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Patrick J. Kennedy Medal of Honor for his actions at 348 Commonwealth Avenue, Back Bay, Box 1584, on March 23, 1964. Citation for Fire Fighter Murphy

1965 – Fire Fighter George E. Thompson, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

July 19, 1968 – Company received a new 1968 Diamond Reo tractor, Serial # 574669, Shop # 207T , attached to the 1957 Seagrave 100ft aerial ladder trailer, Shop # 281.

1970 – Fire Lieutenant John A. Rose and Fire Fighter Arthur L. Mulrey, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

March 25, 1971 – Company received a new 1971 Maxim 100ft tiller aerial ladder truck, Serial # 2873, Shop # 220.

June 17, 1972 – Ladder 15’s ladder truck was crushed in the collapse of the Vendome Hotel building, Box 1571, 4 Alarms. The collapse caused the death of nine firefighters.

1972 – Company received a 1968 Diamond Reo tractor, Serial # 568701, Shop # 283T , attached to a 1958 Seagrave 100ft aerial ladder trailer, Shop # 283.

June 21, 1973 – Company received a new 1973 Maxim 100ft tiller aerial ladder truck, Serial # 3127, Shop # 220.

1974 – Fire Fighter John J. Simpson, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

1975 – Fire Fighter Allen B. Llewellyn, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the John E. Fitzgerald Medal for the Most Meritorious Act of 1975. Citation for Fire Fighter Llewellyn.

November 19, 1976 – Company received a new 1976 Seagrave 100ft tiller aerial ladder truck, Serial # F76065, Shop # 295.

1978 – Fire Fighter Nicholas P. Keenan Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

1981 – Fire Lieutenant Henry T. Hickey, Ladder Company 15 (detailed to Fire Prevention), was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for his actions at 27 Hancock Street, Dorchester, on September 26, 1981. Citation for Fire Fighter Hickey.

June 22, 1989 – Company received a new 1989 Emergency One, low-profile, 110ft rearmount aerial ladder truck, Serial # 7092, Shop # 214.

1989 – Fire Lieutenant Robert J. Crawford, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for his actions Boylston Street, Back Bay, on August 21, 1989. Citation for Fire Lieutenant Crawford.

1991 – Fire Fighter Neil J. Martin, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

1993 – Fire Fighter Brendan Collins, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the John E. Fitzgerald Medal for the Most Meritorious Act of 1993, for his actions at 25 Follen Street, South End, Box 1564, on April 22, 1993. Citation for Fire Fighter Collins.

1993 – Fire Lieutenant Michael E. Tierney and Fire Fighter Sheldon K. Jackson, Ladder Company 15, were awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

June 24, 1994 – Fire Lieutenant Stephen F. Minehan, Ladder Company 15, died in the Line-Of-Duty at a fire at the former Rapids Furniture warehouse at 44 Charles River Avenue, Charlestown, Box 4113, 9 Alarms.
photoloddminehan1994a

Fire Lieutenant Minehan was awarded the John E. Fitzgerald Medal for the Most Meritorious Act of 1994, Citation , and the Boston Fire Department Medal of Valor for his actions on Charles River Avenue, Charlestown, on June 24, 1994. Citation.

 

1994 – Fire Lieutenant Michael E. Tierney, Fire Fighter Brendan Collins, Fire Fighter Edward C. Doherty and Fire Fighter Richard H. Graham were awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

1997 – Fire Captain James E. Welsh and Fire Fighter Dennis E. Keith, Ladder Company 15, were awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

1997 – Fire Fighter Richard S. O’Neill, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

July 30, 2004 – Company received a new 2004 Pierce, ‘Dash’, 100ft rearmount aerial ladder truck, Serial # 15665-02, Shop # 237.

2007 – Fire Fighter on Probation (FFOP) Daniel B. Donahoe, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

October 20, 2010 – Company received a new 2010 Emergency One, ‘Cyclone II’, 110ft, low-profile rearmount aerial ladder truck, Serial # 136023, Shop # 252.

2010 – Fire Fighter Mark M. Folan, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Roll Of Merit. Citation

2013 – Fire Fighter Michael Materia, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Edward H. Hommel, M.D., Medal of Honor. Citation

2013 – Fire Fighter Timothy J. Freda, Ladder Company 15, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Citation

March 26, 2014 – Fire Fighter Michael R. Kennedy, Ladder Company 15, detailed to Engine Co. 33, died in the Line Of Duty at 298 Beacon St., Back Bay, Box 1579, 9 Alarms.

Photo of Fire Fighter Michael R. Kennedy, Ladder Company 15, LODD March 26, 2014.
photolodd2014kennedy
Medal of Valor Citation for Fire Fighter Kennedy.

December 1, 2017 – Company received a new 2017 Emergency One ‘Metro’ 100ft aerial ladder truck, Serial # 141354, Shop # 270.

2017 – Fire Fighter Daniel B. Donahoe, Ladder Company 15, was among a group of firefighters awarded the Fire Commissioner’s Community Service Award for their work in support of ‘The Burn Foundation’. Citation

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