Five Floors Up

The Heroic Family Story of Four Generations in the FDNY

By: Brian McDonald

Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan, Brian McDonald

Rescue Me meets Blue Bloods in this riveting social history of the New York City Fire Department told from the perspective of the Feehan family, who served in the FDNY for four generations and counting.

Seen through the eyes of four generations of a firefighter family, Five Floors Up the story of the modern New York City Fire Department. From the days just after the horse-drawn firetruck, to the devastation of the 1970s when the Bronx was Burning, to the unspeakable tragedy of 9/11, to the culture-busting department of today, a Feehan has worn the shoulder patch of the FDNY. The tale shines the spotlight on the career of William M. Feehan. “Chief” Feehan is the only person to have held every rank in the FDNY including New York City’s 28th Fire Commissioner. He died in the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. But Five Floors Up is at root an intimate look at a firefighter clan, the selflessness and bravery of not only those who face the flames, but the family members who stand by their sides. Alternately humorous and harrowing, rich with anecdotes and meticulously researched and reported, Five Floors Up takes us inside a world few truly understand, documenting an era that is quickly passing us by.

©2022 Brian McDonald (P)2022 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

“Five Floors Up takes us on a heart-pounding journey of ordinary heroes, running into extreme fires to rescue those trapped while their families fear for their safety. We see the courageous lives of multiple generations of firefighters and deeply get to know Chief Bill Feehan as a revered leader in the FDNY who was with me in the World Trade Center on 9/11, before it collapsed.”—JOSEPH PFEIFER, Assistant Chief FDNY (Ret.), author of the New York Times bestseller Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11

“Brian McDonald knows New York City, and in Five Floors Up he’s brilliantly given us its history through the eyes of four generations of a firefighter family, including FDNY Chief William Feehan, who died heroically on 9/11. It’s deep, full of fascinating stories, funny, and vividly written.”—J.T. MOLLOY, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Greatest Beer Run Ever

“When you start reading Brian McDonald’s Five Floors Up, you resent any time you have to put it aside. You see, McDonald is a brilliant weaver of words, and here he’s taken the history of the New York City Fire Department, works his magic, and out comes the story of four generations of the Feehan family. He talks about traditional sexism, prejudice, along with love and the heroism of saving others from certain death. Filled with family stories, and facts too, the soul of New York City is bared for native and outsider alike. Start with a dozen copies to share.”—MALACHY MCCOURT, New York Times bestselling author of A Monk Swimming and Death Need Not Be Fatal

Great book

I loved this book very detailed! Will listen to again! Some stories did drag on a little.

Two thumbs up.

Interesting historical story of a “public service” family covering their commitment, success, loss and tradition.

Fire History

I love to read or listen to fire history. This story of a firefighting family dating back many years earlier makes me have a much more appreciation for this history. God bless the Feehan family and all of those like theirs.