This section is exclusively dedicated to coverage of the New York City Fire Department
FDNY NEWS
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PUBLISHING SINCE 1993
DECEMBER, 2013
ALLEN EPSTEIN
On September 5, 2013, the FDNY responded to 340 Herberton Avenue around 5:30 p.m. for fire on the third floor of a commercial with apartments above. - See full story on page 2
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December, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
ALLEN EPSTEIN
Small fire in Queens On October 15, 2013, a small fire was reported at 71st Street and Myrtle Avenue in Queens. Crews arrived to a three brick and found fire in the basement. No extension was found into the store or apartments above. One hose line was used to extinguish the fire.
ALLEN EPSTEIN
All hands in Queens On October 12, 2013, FDNY crews were alerted to a fire at Cornelia Street and Seneca Avenue in Queens. They arrived to a three brick, finding fire on the third floor. One hose line was used to quickly knock down the fire.
PATCHES If you have photos you would like to see in our Patches feature please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
B&JFIREPHOTOS
School bus overturns in Staten Island ROBERT PAV
FDNY Engine 18 patch
On October 30, 2013 shortly after 7:30 a.m., FDNY crews responded to an overturned school bus that collied with a pickup truck at the intersection of Oakdale St and Preston Ave . Multiple children were on board at the time of the crash. Emergency responders treated at least nine patients with unknown injuries
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
December, 2013
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VEHICLE NEWS If you have photos you would like to see in our Vehicle News feature please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
RON JEFFERS
FDNY received several High Water Response Units built by Ferrara using an International 4x4 chassis.
FRED BACCHI
RON JEFFERS
In Chinatown, FDNY Ladder Co. 6 has been assigned a 2013 Seagrave 100-foot tractor drawn aerial ladder.
RON JEFFERS
FDNY Squad 252 has been assigned a 2013 Seagrave 1000gpm/50-gwt rescue-pumper.
FRED BACCHI
All hands at Queens bus garage On October 23, 2013 at approximately 12:30 a.m., FDNY units responded to a fire in a one story brick 40 x 80 bus garage in the Maspeth section of Queens. The fire was located in the rear work shop area and mezzanine office. Two lines were stretched and operated at this fire. No injuries were reported. Under control time of this incident was 100 a.m.
RON JEFFERS
FDNY Ladder Co. 130 received a 2013 Ferrara 100-foot rearmount aerial ladder.
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December, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
Santa will be rescued from roof On Sunday, December 8 at 11:30 a.m. sharp, in the best tradition of the fire service, an FDNY ladder truck will bravely rescue Santa from his perilous perch on top JUMP TO FILE of the New York #110113102 City Fire Museum. Once safely inside, Santa will take gift requests and pose for photos. Hot dogs and hot chocolate will be available for purchase in the Museum’s third floor Christmas Café and Christmas carols will be performed live by John Clacher’s fire house band. New York Life will also be digitally finger printing kids to make ID cards for parents! It is free to watch the rescue, and admission to sit with Santa on the second floor is $10 for adults and $2 for children. Children of all ages are invited to attend! The New York City Fire Museum, located in a 1904 firehouse at 278 Spring Street, is the official museum of the FDNY. Proceeds from the Annual Santa Rescue benefits their world-class fire safety education program designed to teach children how to prevent fires within the home and how to stay safe and escape should one occur. - DAMON CAMPAGNA DAMON CAMPAGNA ALLEN EPSTEIN
One hose line used in Queens On October 14, 2013, FDNY crews were alerted to a fire at 78th Street and Myrtle Avenue in Queens. Firefighters arrived to find fire in a two brick on the first floor. A ladder was extended and one hose line was used to extinguish the all hands fire.
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December, 2013
Page 5
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December, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
Engine 163, Ladder 117 FDNY HOUSES FDNY HOUSES by Larry Woodcock
Astoria is a neighborhood located in the Northwestern part of the borough of Queens, bounded by the East River. This middle class and commercial neighborhood dates as far back as 1659. The area is known for many Greek and Egyptian cultures. Astoria was first settled by the Dutch and Germans in the 17th century. Italians and Irish were the next group of immigrants to settle in the area. Numerous delis, pizzerias, and bakeries are found today throughout the area and especially along Ditmars Boulevard. It is well known for it’s Greek and Egyptian influence, which consists of many taverns and cafes that can be found on just about every main thoroughfare. The largest of the city’s public pools can be found in Astoria Park, which sits along the East River. At 330 feet, the pool was used for the 1926 and 1964 Olympic trials. Just beyond is the Hell Gate Bridge, which connects Queens with Manhattan and the Bronx. Identified by its 1,017 foot arch, construction began in 1912 and was completed in 1916. At the time, it was the world’s longest steel arch bridge before being surpassed by the Bayonne Bridge in 1931 and later, in 1932, by the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Not open to cars, the bridge is used and owned by Amtrak for passenger and freight trains, which continue through to Westchester County and eventually up to Boston, after originating in Washington D.C. Serving the community of Astoria is 263 Engine and 117 Truck located just off the Grand Central Parkway and 31st Street at 42-06 Astoria Boulevard. Between the rock and a hard place, firefighters have been in this firehouse since 1909 and proudly serving the citizens of Astoria. The world famous Steinway Piano Company can be found here, which was founded in New York City in 1853. Known for incomparable craftsmanship, each piano is hand made and contains more then 12,000 parts and takes one year to build. Approximately 1500 Steinway pianos are built in the Queen’s factory each year. Steinway Street is a major street in Astoria and is named in honor of the company for it’s impact on the community for the last century and a half. The Bohemian Hall and Park located at 24th Avenue and 29th Street was founded in 1892 to support Slovak and Czech immigrants. It is known for it’s large outdoor and indoor beer gardens.
LARRY WOODCOCK
The garden hosts holiday parties, jazz bands, ethnic festivals, and many other events. Also known as the Bohemian Citizens Benevolent Society, it was added to the Register of Historic Places in March of 2001. Many cultures can be found here, as Astoria epitomizes the term cultural melting pot and has become a hot spot for young professionals looking to escape the high prices of Manhattan. With just a 15 minute com-
mute, trendy restaurants and great views of Upper and Lower Manhattan, it is easy to see why this will always be a desirable community. Engine Company 263 was organized as Engine 5 Long Island City Fire Department on December 8,1894. Their firehouse was located at 40-08 Astoria Bouvelard. They changed to 63 Engine in January of 1898 and then changed to Engine 163 in October of 1899. In May of 1909, they moved
into their current firehouse, which was completed in one year. In January of 1913, Engine 163 became Engine 263. They were closed in 1975 during the fiscal crisis along with several other companies, but only for two days as the city could not operate with the closing of companies and layoffs. Ladder 117 was organized as Ladder 4 Long Island City Fire Department on the same date of December 8, 1894. They changer
over to Ladder 4 of the FDNY in January of 1898 then changed over to Ladder 67 in October of 1899. They moved into their current firehouse in May of 1909, as both companies housed together since their inception. They finally changed over to Ladder 117 in January of 1913. Between the rock and a hard place, an appropriate slogan for two of Queens original companies.
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1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
December, 2013
PAge 7
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) Part III OSHA estimates that over five million workplaces in the United States would be affected by the revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). These are all those
STAYING SAFE Chief Henry Campbell
ALLEN EPSTEIN
Second alarm in Brooklyn On October 4, 2013, FDNY crews arrived at Avenue 2 to fire in a vacant. Firefighters found fire on the second floor in the rear with extension to exposure two. Four hose lines were used to extinguish the fire.
workplaces where employees, a total of approximately 43 million of them, could be exposed to hazardous chemicals. Included among these five million workplaces are an estimated 90,000 establishments that create hazardous chemicals; these chemical producers employ almost three million workers. The revised Hazard Communications Standard's (HCS) total costs an estimated $201 million a year on an annualized basis for the entire United States, is the sum of four major cost elements. 1. OSHA estimates that the cost of classifying chemical hazards in accordance with the GHS criteria and revising safety data sheets and labels to meet new format and content requirements would be $22.5 million a year on an annualized basis. 2. OSHA estimates that training for employees to become familiar with new warning symbols and the revised safety data sheet format under GHS would cost $95.4 million a year on an annualized basis. 3. OSHA estimated annualized costs of $59 million a year for management to become familiar with the new GHS system and to engage in other management-related activities as may be necessary for industry's adoption of GHS. 4. OSHA estimated annualized costs of $24.1 million for printing packaging and labels for hazardous chemicals in color. OSHA expects that the modifications to the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) will result in increased safety and health for the affected employees and reduce the numbers of accidents, fatalities, injuries, and illnesses associated with exposures to hazardous chemicals. The GHS revisions to the HCS standard for labeling and safety data sheets would enable employees exposed to workplace chemicals to more quickly obtain and to more easily understand information about the hazards associated with those chemicals. In addition, the revisions to HCS are expected to improve the use of appropriate exposure controls and work practices that can reduce the safety and health risks associated with exposure to hazardous chemicals. OSHA estimates that the revised HCS will result in the prevention of 43 fatalities and 585
injuries and illnesses (318 non-lostworkday injuries and illnesses, 203 lost-workday injuries and illnesses, and 64 chronic illnesses) annually. The monetized value of this reduction in occupational risks is an estimated $250 million a year on an annualized basis. OSHA estimates that the revised HCS will result in savings of $475.2 million from productivity improvements for health and safety managers and logistics personnel, $32.2 million during periodic updating of SDSs and labels, and $285.3 million from simplified hazard communication training. OSHA anticipates that, in addition to safety and health benefits, the revised HCS will result in four types of productivity benefits: (1) for chemical manufacturers, because they will need to produce fewer SDSs in future years; (2) for employers, in providing training to new employees as required by the existing OSHA HCS through the improved consistency of the labels and SDSs. (3) for firms engaging in, or considering engaging in, international trade. OSHA is requiring that employees are trained on the new label elements (i.e., pictograms, hazard statements, precautionary statements, and signal words) and SDS format by December 1, 2013, while full compliance with the final rule will begin in 2015. OSHA believes that American workplaces will soon begin to receive labels and SDSs that are consistent with the GHS, since many American and foreign chemical manufacturers have already begun to produce HazCom 2012/GHScompliant labels and SDSs. It is important to ensure that when employees begin to see the new labels and SDSs in their workplaces, they will be familiar with them, understand how to use them, and access the information effectively. The above information has been extracted from the OSHA web site and for more information go to: http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/effectivedates.html and https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/hazcom-faq.html#1 Hazardous chemicals will always be hazardous and require extreme caution when being handled, but human error and industrial error and mistakes will continue and require response from emergency responders. Therefore, all emergency responders should receive instruction and training on the new GH System and the changes impacting their response and the handling of hazardous chemicals. Familiarization will not occur overnight but will eventually lead to a safer and unified response environment for all. Till next time stay safe and God Bless!
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December, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
FDNY AT THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON To see your action shots in the newspaper, upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
STEVE WHITE
Tower ladder 77 from Staten Island provided an aerial platform for NYC Marathon coordinators who directed the race from their bucket. Firefighters Daniel Hansen, Rohan Wilson, Mike Burgo, Captain Tom Colman with firefighters Lenny Tyrell and Lenny Kinnear.
STEVE WHITE
Firefighter Adrienne Walsh represented her home borough of Brooklyn in the Footlocker Five Borough Challenge. Adrienne was the first female in the history of the FDNY to join a rescue company. She is running in her 31st marathon.
STEVE WHITE
FDNY and NYPD members competed against each other in this year’s marathon. The FDNY won a trophy for best times.
STEVE WHITE STEVE WHITE
Tower Ladder 77 at the starting line of the NYC Marathon.
There was heightened security due to the Boston Marathon tragedy. NYC Fire Marshals were also on hand to protect the marathoners.
December, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
PAgE 9
PATCHES If you have photos you would like to see in our Patches feature please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
FRED BACCHI ANTHONY WATTS
The 18th Avenue Crew Patch from FDNY Ladder 168, Engine 243 and B 42
Flames and Smoke Visible VIDEO REVIEW Video reviews by John Malecky
Flames and Smoke Visible A Firefighter’s Tale By D.S. Lliteras Available from: FSP Books & Videos 188 Central Street, #4 Hudson, MA 01749-1330 1-800-522-8528 www.fire-police-ems.com E-Mail: support@fire-policeems.com Price: $17.95 FRED BACCHI
All hands in Maspeth stops fire from spreading On October 17, 2013 at 6:00 a.m., FDNY units in Queens responded to a reported truck fire at 57 Drive and Rust Street in the Maspeth section of the boro. Squad 288 arrived and ordered the full assignment be assigned due to a truck fire that extended to a private dwelling. The fire building was a two story frame 20 x 40 attached on the exposure two side. Exposure four was the street where the truck was parked. Fire had extended up the outside wall of exposure four and into the cockloft. Quick work by units on the scene stopped the fire from spreading further.
This book is soft cover measuring 5 ½ inches by 8 ½ inches. It has an introduction followed by 193 pages within 37 chapters. The story is about a firefighter serving in the Richmond, Virginia Fire Department. The story opens with a house fire and the author responds to it on a engine company. Before the brief chapter is over, the author is sidelined with chest pains and later he is transported to the hospital. He has had a heart attack and is admitted. We jump to the last chapter to where he is about to go home the following day. However, between the first and last chapter, the author relives his career, writing to us about his
years of service. He takes us not only through working fires, but about firehouse routines, procedures, firehouse life, missed meals, inspections, explaining the duties of engine and ladder companies which he rode on both in his regular station and while filling in at others, including as a fill in driver/pump operator. He also writes about rookies, acting captain, the safety officer, salvage and overhaul and work cycles, medical calls, etc. He bounces back and forth to his hospital stay and his unusual roommate. Read about the roommate’s diagnosis. It might just be something you never heard of. He writes about some lingo, which might be common in Richmond, but may not be in other fire departments. One is a “Zone Car” which after reading about it, I imagine it is a paramedic supervisor. Another is a “smoke cutter” which appears to be a handlight, possibly a personal one. Another is the word “destriced” which is used once having to do with a serious car fire. I believe I may have come across it in another chapter, but the computer does not recognize it so it could be one of his own selfmade words meaning trashed, destroyed or something along that line. In any event, the chapters as you can see are short, but interesting and presents as a good read!
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December, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
FACES OF THE FDNY To see your action shots in the newspaper, upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
ALLEN EPSTEIN
The members of FDNY Engine 286 and Ladder 135 at their 100th Anniversary celebration in September.
FRED BACCHI
A firefighter from FDNY Rescue 4 after a recent all hands in Elmhurst, Queens.
STEVE WHITE
Firefighters Rohan Wilson and Daniel Hansen in Ladder 77's bucket at the NYC Marathon.
JOSEPH EPSTEIN
FRED BACCHI
Engine 289, the Corona Tigers, recently celebrated their centennial serving Corona, Queens on September 20th.
Firefighter from Rescue 4 after recent second alarm in Maspeth, Queens
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December, 2013
1ST Responder Newspaper - NJ
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
December, 2013
Page 11
Heroes Mortgage Program
Successful mission continues for heroes mortgage program after two successful years Two years ago, 1st Responder and Sun Home Loans teamed up to create the Sun National Bank Heroes Mortgage Program. The mission? It was simple. Provide firefighters and other members of the emergency services community, the brave men and women who risk their lives for us every day, with an exclusive mortgage opportunity that provides discounted fees and low interest rates. Mission accomplished. The Heroes Mortgage Program continues to flourish, helping firefighters buy their first house, purchase the home of their dreams and get a better mortgage rate with a refinance. “We knew the Heroes Mortgage was a good idea when we developed it, but we had to still introduce it to the public,” said Joe Belsito, Publisher of 1st Responder. “We were confident from day one and, rather quickly, we started receiving positive feedback from clients. The program took off and we couldn’t be more proud, considering who we are serving, the hard-working people who risk
their lives for us every day.” Over the last two years, the Heroes Mortgage Program has had the pleasure of working with some special individuals. Ernesto Acuna works two weekly 24-hour shifts as a firefighter/paramedic with the Gainesville (Fla.) Fire Rescue Department. And that’s not all. Acuna, 42, also puts in two 12-hour shifts as a paramedic at a local hospital. Talk about dedication. With so much going on, Acuna didn’t have time to be tied down with paperwork during his search for a mortgage. Not a problem. “It made a big difference and made my life a lot easier,” Acuna said. When she and her husband applied for a home mortgage, Lori Yukniewicz admitted being intimidated by the seemingly endless paperwork. However, Heroes Mortgage clients enjoy unmatched customer service and attentiveness throughout the process, from their initial inquiry, to closing. Yukniewicz’s husband, Logan, has been a volunteer with the East Whitehouse (N.J.) Fire Department
for six years, so they took advantage of the Heroes Mortgage Program. The couple sang the praise of the mortgage staff, how helpful they were, and always available. “That’s what we pride ourselves on,” said Steve Testa, an executive vice president with Sun National Bank. “Our customer service, along with our competitive rates, are part of the reason why the Heroes Mortgage Program has been such a success. We are proud of all we have accomplished so far and will only look to build on it.” Whether purchasing a new home or refinancing an existing one, the Heroes Mortgage Program is offered exclusively, providing personal service, benefits and rates not normally available to the general public. To receive more information about the program and its benefits, contact Steven Testa at stesta@sunnb.com or call 973-6159745. Sun National Bank Home Loans and 1st Responder Newspaper are not affiliated. All loans subject to approval. Certain conditions and fees may apply. Mortgage fi-
nancing provided by Sun National Bank Loans, Equal Housing Lender. --Sun National Bank Home Loans and 1st Responder News-
paper are not affiliated. All loans subject to approval. Certain conditions and fees may apply. Mortgage financing provided by Sun National Bank Loans, Equal Housing Lender.
ENTER ONLINE AT WWW.1RBN.COM
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December, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY