The boat was first called to action on December 17, 1892 (1892-12-17), in response to a large fire at a cotton warehouse in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood.

Upon arrival, she assisted the Seth Low in extinguishing the blaze.

[3] On October 22, 1905, the David Boody helped fight a fire that broke out aboard the lighter Joseph Codringham's cargo of barrels of oil.

[4] On July 25, 1909, David A. Boody and Abram S. Hewitt fought a cargo fire aboard the Ward Line steamship Vigilancia.

Seth Low relieved Abram S. Hewitt before the fire was extinguished.