You’re gliding through a rain-soaked Gotham, neon lights blurring as you dive toward a rooftop, when a frantic radio transmission crackles through. It’s not the Joker. It’s not even the Arkham Knight. It’s just... a guy. A firefighter. This is how most players stumble into Batman Arkham Knight In the Line of Duty, a mission that starts off feeling like a simple "save the hostage" filler but ends up being one of the most grounded, morally grey stories in the entire Arkhamverse.
Honestly? It's easy to overlook. Amidst the world-ending stakes of Scarecrow’s toxin, saving sixteen dudes from Station 17 feels like small potatoes. But if you skip it, you miss out on one of the best twists in the game.
What’s Actually Going On With Station 17?
The setup is basic. Gotham is burning, and the fire crews are missing. Chief Raymond Underhill and his men have been snatched up by thugs. Your job is to find them. There are 15 firefighters scattered across the three main islands, plus the Chief himself.
The game doesn't just hand these to you on a silver platter. Aside from the first one at Dixon Docks, you have to actually hunt for them. You’ll be flying around Bleake, Miagani, and Founders’ Island, listening for the "Local Surveillance" tracker to pop up in the corner of your screen. If you hear thugs bragging about beating up a "hero," you're in the right place.
The Gritty Reality of the Rescue
The rescues themselves are basically mini-combat or predator puzzles. Some are easy—just five guys in a room. Others, like the one at the Grand Avenue Station on Miagani, are absolute death traps. You’ll find firefighters surrounded by automated turrets where a frontal assault is basically suicide. You have to get creative with the Remote Hacking Device or the Batmobile to stand a chance.
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Most people assume this mission is just a setup to fight Firefly. It’s not. While the Gotham on Fire mission handles Firefly’s pyromania, Batman Arkham Knight In the Line of Duty is a separate beast entirely. It’s about the people who stayed behind when Gotham evacuated—and the secrets they were keeping.
The Twist Everyone Forgets
Once you rescue all 15 firefighters, you finally track down Chief Underhill. He’s being held at a construction site on the north end of Founders' Island. After you clear the area and save him, the mood shifts. There’s no big boss fight. No grand villain reveal. Just a tired old man and the World's Greatest Detective.
Here’s the kicker: Chief Underhill wasn't just a victim. He made a deal with the devil.
Faced with budget cuts and the potential closure of Station 17, Underhill hired Garfield Lynns (Firefly) to set fire to abandoned buildings and redevelopment projects. The logic was twisted but simple: if there are no fires to fight, the city doesn't need firefighters. He wanted to keep his men employed. He wanted to keep the station open.
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He never intended for Firefly to go rogue and start burning down the city’s actual infrastructure. He certainly didn't expect his own men to get kidnapped and brutalized.
Where to Find Every Last One of Them
If you’re trying to wrap this up for the "Death of Innocents" achievement, you need to know where to look. The game locks some of these behind story progression, so don't drive yourself crazy looking for them all at once.
Bleake Island (6 Firefighters)
- Dixon Dock West: This is the first one the game gives you. It's inside a security office.
- Near ACE Chemicals: Look for the bridge leading to the plant.
- Chinatown: On a terrace garden bar. High ground is your friend here.
- Falcon Shipping: Right on the docks.
- The Cauldron: Near the lighthouse.
Miagani Island (4 Firefighters)
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- Mercy Bridge: This one is tucked away near the foot of the bridge.
- Gotham Herald Building: Southeast corner.
- Wayne Tower: Right on the edge of the building’s foundation.
- Grand Avenue Station: This is the one with the turrets. Use the Batmobile or stay very, very quiet.
Founders’ Island (5 Firefighters + The Chief)
- Port Adams: Hidden in the middle of the shipping containers.
- Ryker Heights: One is near the blimps, and another requires you to go underground through a manhole cover.
- The Trade House: North end of the island. This one is a predator encounter with a sniper and a jammer. You have to do this one before the Chief becomes available.
Why This Mission Actually Matters
Most side missions in Arkham Knight are about Batman’s classic rogues. They're about insanity and grand plans. In the Line of Duty is different. It’s about the collapse of Gotham’s soul. It shows that even the "good guys" can be corrupted by desperation.
When you take Underhill back to the GCPD, he doesn't fight. He just confesses. Seeing him sit in a cell next to people like Penguin and Two-Face is jarring. He’s a man who loved his job too much and destroyed his life to save it. It’s a somber ending to a mission that starts as a simple rescue op.
Pro-Tips for the Final Stretch
- Use the Disruptor: On Founders' Island, the thugs are better equipped. Sabotage their weapon crates before you even touch the ground.
- Fear Multi-Takedowns: These are essential for the larger groups. If you can take out three or four guys before the fight officially starts, you're golden.
- Listen to the radio: If you're struggling to find the last few, just glide around and listen. The thug dialogue is a literal compass for these locations.
- Check the GCPD: After you turn in a firefighter, talk to Aaron Cash. He sometimes gives you intel on the next location.
Actionable Next Steps
To finish this mission efficiently, follow this order:
- Prioritize the story: Don't hunt for all of them until you've unlocked the Batmobile's access to all three islands.
- Upgrade your Fear Takedown: Many of the later rescues involve 10+ enemies. Having a 5-hit Fear Multi-Takedown makes these encounters trivial.
- Watch the icons: Once you get close to a location, a white icon will appear on your map permanently. If you see one, clear it immediately so you don't have to backtrack.
- Don't confuse it with Firefly: Remember that the fire stations (where you use the Power Winch) are for the Gotham on Fire mission. The firefighters are always in random, tucked-away locations, not at the firehouses.