Fire Historian and Author Gerald P. Bourgeois has authored the first-ever book detailing the history of the Concord Fire Department, entitled, “Wherever Flames May Rage.” He will share his historical research in a presentation on Wednesday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Taylor Community’s Woodside Building. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested by calling 524-5600.

The book follows the development in the state’s capitol from 1807, when the first hand-engine company was incorporated, through the steam engine era, beginning in 1862. It then continues to the motorized era beginning in 1913 and through today’s operation.

 Bourgeois was an educator for 40 years, retiring as an administrator at the New Hampshire Department of Education. He was also a firefighter/officer in a Westerly, R.I. fire company; a fire commissioner in Attleboro, Mass. and a call dispatcher in Plymouth. In 1971, he was accepted to membership in Boston’s Box 52 Association. He compiled fire publications in the 1990’s called “Red Pages of Firefighting,” which detailed facts about departments in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont. In 1995 The Leather Helmet Society of N.H. awarded Bourgeois its Outstanding Achievement Award for this publication. Today is he a Taylor Community resident.