HOW IT STARTED

The Second Alarmers were born out of an emergency. In 1921, a large fire on the waterfront kept police and fire working long hours on a chilly February night. A group of residents, noticing the effect of the weather on first-responders, jumped in their cars, bought coffee, and returned to the scene. It was this “sense of taking care of those who take care of the public” that created the group. That has remained its core value almost 95 years later.

Having begun as a Canteen Unit and primarily providing food and drink for police and fire, the association has become more intrinsic and inter-woven in emergency response beyond coffee. From the derailment of Amtrak 188, Hurricane Sandy, Pope Francis’ visit and a six-alarm fire this past February, the Second Alarmers cover over 400 responses a year. In 94 years of service, the Alarmers have made 13,000 “runs”. They now assist with replacing first-responders’ clothing, radio batteries, and oxygen-filled breathing cylinders.