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FDNY NEWS
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AUGUST, 2016
ALL-HANDS IN STATEN ISLAND
STEVE WHITE
On June 9th at 3:10 P.M., departments responded to a fire on the top floor of a two-story attached at 359 Walker Street, in Staten Island. The fire was quickly knocked down, with no injuries reported.
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August, 2016
1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY
STEVE WHITE
JOHN HOPPER
Manhattan all-hands Box 0731 On the evening of Wednesday, June 22nd at approximately 8 P.M., Engine-26, Ladder-24 and Battalion9 responded to 230 West 39th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues for a Class-3 alarm. Ladder-24 arrived on scene and requested the box to be transmitted due to a smoke condition in the building. Battalion-9 arrived on scene and transmitted a 10-75 for an electrical fire with a heavy smoke
JUMP TO FILE #070516118 condition in the basement of a 12story commercial building. The fire was located in several transformers in the basement. Water could not be used on this type of fire, so a PurpleK Unit (Engine-33), was dispatched to extinguish the fire. Due to a report
of sulfuric acid located in the basement, a hazmat assignment was also dispatched, assigning Hazmat-1 and Squad-1 as the Hazmat Tech-Unit and the Hazmat Battalion. The fire was eventually knocked down with Purple-K and the incident was placed under control with an approximate three-hour duration. - JOHN HOPPER
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STEVE WHITE
All-hands in Staten Island On June 9th at 3:10 P.M., departments responded to a fire on the top floor of a two-story attached at 359 Walker Street, in Staten Island. The fire was quickly knocked down, with no injuries reported.
ALLEN EPSTEIN
On June 13th, Battalion Chief George Eysser was honored for his 35-years of service with the FDNY. He passed away one-year ago from illness sustained during 9/11.
1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY
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August, 2016
ALLEN EPSTEIN
Fire in Brooklyn store
On June 12th, there was a six-brick store fire with no extension to the upper floors. Two lines were used with one additional engine and ladder on scene. JOHN HOPPER
Gas fed fire erupts in Bronx store
JOHN HOPPER
Bedroom blaze in Bronx On the evening of Wednesday, July 6th, at approximately 10:00 P.M., Bronx Fire Alarm Dispatchers received a call reporting a fire on the first-floor at 3266 Hull Avenue, crossing at East 207th Street. Engine-62 and Ladder-32 were already responding to an odor of gas in the same area and were redirected to respond first-due to the box on Hull. Battalion-27 arrived on scene and transmitted a 10-75 for a fire on the firstfloor of a two-and-a-half story private dwelling. All-hands were put to work while an additional engine and truck were requested. The fire was located in the rear bedroom and was quickly knocked down. The incident was placed under control with an approximate 30-minute duration.
On the morning of Thursday, June 30th, Bronx Companies turned out to 2545 Grand Concourse at East 192nd Street for a reported fire in a multiple dwelling. Due to the numerous phone calls re- JUMP TO FILE# ceived by Bronx 070516119 Fire Alarm Dispatchers, the Box was "Loaded Up" with a fourth Engine, a third Ladder as the FASTeam, Rescue-3, Squad-61 and an additional battalion chief. Engine-48 arrived on scene first-due and transmitted a 10-75 for a fire on the first-floor of a five-story mixed occupancy. Battalion-27 arrived on scene and put all-hands to work. The fire was found in the first-floor store and an additional Engine and Truck were requested. Con Edison was also requested to the scene, due to this being a gas fed fire. Division-7 arrived on scene shortly after and transmitted a 2nd-alarm. The fire extended to the floor above and three lines were stretched. The fire was knocked down and the incident was placed under control with an approximate 90-minute duration. - JOHN HOPPER
JOHN HOPPER
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August, 2016
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APPARATUS IN ACTION If you have photos you would like to see in our Apparatus in Action feature please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@1stResponderNews.com.
Main body of fire knocked down, units checking for extension in the house.
ALLEN EPSTEIN
Engine-157 in Staten Island, NY.
Firefighters tanking up the line.
STEVE WHITE
ALLEN EPSTEIN
Small job in Queens On June 23rd, firefighters responded to a fire in the rear yard of a two-story brick structure. One line was used and there was minor extension to the first-floor.
STEVE WHITE
Battalion-21 in Staten Island, NY.
STEVE WHITE
Heavy smoke at Staten Island Mall An all-hands fire broke out in the Staten Island Mall on May 14th. The smokey blaze started in an elevator room at the mall, causing a heavy smoke condition. Parts of the mall were evacuated by the FDNY. No injuries were reported.
ALLEN EPSTEIN
Roof fire in Brooklyn On June 12th, there was a roof fire in Brooklyn at a three-brick store. One line was used to knock the fire down.
1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY
August, 2016
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IN SERVICE
Engine-60, Truck-17 and the 14th Battalion
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FDNY HOUSES FDNY HOUSES by Larry Woodcock
When people think of the Bronx, the prevailing thoughts are usually Little Italy or the Bronx Zoo. They rarely think of the south Bronx and if they do, it's only because of its rough and bad reputation. As with all New York City neighborhoods, it was Italian, German and Irish immigrants that settled here by the end of the 19th century. Originally named after Jordan Mott, who owned the Mott iron works in 1849, parts of the neighborhood quickly became upper middle class residential areas, with brownstones and elaborate private dwellings along Alexander Avenue. By 1900, Alexander Avenue was also known as the "Irish Fifth Avenue" for its “doctors row," while Wills Avenue would be known as “judges row." During a ten-year span in the late 40’s to late 50’s, a parade on Easter Sunday was held by veterans of the Irish Republican Army, supported by the fact that there were more bars and musicians living in Mott Haven then any other place besides Ireland itself. By the late 1960’s, poverty overspread throughout the area as well as many other places in both the south and central Bronx, leading to the phenomenon known as “white flight." By the 1970's, the wave of crime, arson and civil unrest either damaged or destroyed most of the neighborhoods. Despite this, the area known as the "Irish Fifth Avenue" and "doctors row" was spared. It reached landmark status for the rows of brownstones along Alexander Avenues, between 138th and 141st streets. It was added to the register of historic places in 1980, along with Saint Jerome’s Roman Catholic and Saint Ann’s Episcopal Churches for their design and beauty. Today’s population stands around 70,000, consisting mostly of Latinos along with many Dominicans who migrate from Manhattan’s Washington Heights due to the skyrocketing costs of rent. Mott Haven is also home to the green berets, 60-engine, 17-truck and the 14th battalion on 143rd street. The firehouse was built in 1906 and has been listed as a city historic landmark.
LARRY WOODCOCK
There are several theories regarding how and why the wearing of the green berets started, starting with back in 1970. It's said that the mother-in-law of one of the members of the truck had knitted the berets and presented them to the members to wear during the Saint Patrick’s Day parade that year, perhaps in tribute to the men serving in the Vietnam War. At that time, uniform code was pretty strict and wearing of the berets was not allowed. After the parade, the members put them on and it was widely accepted. In the years following, they would do the same. Then in 1975, the commissioner allowed the men to march with the berets. In 1978, the department order was signed by commissioner Augustus Beekman for the official Green Beret platoon. This tradition would continue uninterrupted until the mid 2000’s, when a certain Mayor (who shall remain nameless), decided that they would no longer be allowed to wear the berets for unknown reasons. Thankfully, the tradition has recently been restored and members now march wearing their green berets again. Engine-60 and Truck-17 have enjoyed a proud history and reputation, not only in the Bronx, but also city-wide. When you mention these two companies, they are well known and respected. Numerous medal recipients and multiple unit citations have been bestowed upon both companies during their illustrious history. Engine-60 was organized on January 1,1895 and located at 606 137th Street, until they would move into their current quarters in November of 1948. Truck-17 was organized on January 1,1874 and was the first truck company in the Bronx. Their location was here in the old firehouse, which was replaced in 1906 by the current one. The truck had a section on two occasions 17(2) first in March of 1907 until January of 1915, then from October of 1970 until December of 1974. The 14th Battalion, which is located here, was organized on January 1,1896 and has been here since March of 1904, after short stays at other firehouses. There have been six line-of-duty-deaths in the combined history of both companies.
FDNY Engine-167 in Staten Island.
STEVE WHITE
FDNY Engine-165's second piece, Hazardous Material Technician Unit, a 2015 Ferrara in Staten Island.
STEVE WHITE
WORKING FACES
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FDNY
On July 1st, FDNY probationary EMTs visited the National September 11th Memorial & Museum, to honor those lost on 9/11.
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1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY
Northern Illinois Fire Ground Photography Commemorative Edition ON THE BOOK SHELF
by John Malecky
Northern Illinois Fire Ground Photography Commemorative Edition By Fire Department Photo Unit, Tom Olk Available from: FSP Books & Videos 188 Central Street, #4 Hudson, MA 01749-1330 1-800522-8528 E-mail: fire-policee m s . c o m www.fire-police-ems.com Price: $42.50 This is a hard cover coffee table book measuring 9 inches x 12 inches and has 120 pages. The author first began photographing fire scenes at the age of 13. He brought them to the fire station and met and assistant chief/investigator who eventually became his mentor. He educated himself and
has had many photos in Fire Engineering, Fire Chief and Fire Rescue Magazines. You can read the rest of his colorful story on the inside cover...and then you can review his outstanding photos. I counted only one black and white photo. The rest are color and there are many to each page. The cover the cities and towns of Northbrook, Evanston, Gurnee, Rockford, Chicago, Joliet, Winthrop Harbor, Waukegan, Wheeling and Highland Park. Types of photos include fire scenes, apparatus at fires, a funeral, group shots of personnel and individual shots or firefighters and chief working, male and female firefighters, a posed shot of mobile ventilation units of MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System), accidents and other emergencies. These scenes reflect firefighting and emergency work in all kinds of weather. From a variety of angles both close up and from a distance, the quality is flawless! It is a book you would want to thumb through over and over again!
Main body of fire was on the balcony.
ALLEN EPSTEIN
STEVE WHITE
Seven-car accident in Staten Island takes one life On June 19th at 1:50 P.M., there was a seven-car accident, with a total of nine patients, in Staten Island on Victory Blvd. and Travis Ave. Four victims were pinned in cars and had to be extricated by the FDNY.
EMS treating a small child for smoke inhalation.
ALLEN EPSTEIN
Quick knock down in Woodside On July 6th, firefighters responded to a 12-story brick structure, with fire on the 7th-floor. One line was used and a small child was treated for minor smoke inhalation.
1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY
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August, 2016
The times they are a changing Chaplain's Corner Didymus McHugh
Back when I joined the fire service, we had the high boots, canvas coats, leather New Yorker helmets, fireball rubber gloves, and that was it. Now, a firefighter has a pair of boots inside bunker pants, bunker coat, hood, helmet with a suspension system, leather gloves and everyone on the fireground has their own portable radio. Now I look at the fire trade magazines and catalogs, and I just saw firefighter bulletproof vests. Wow! So many times we have seen war and riots overseas. Over the years, there has become something that is becoming a "new norm." Since Columbine, there has become a new environment of mass shootings. They happen in theaters, night clubs, schools, malls, churches, military bases, etc. Where is the safety? Did each event have mental health issues going on? This is definitely the “see something say something” era, and I hope that people actually do that. I do not care if someone wants to say that you may be profiling. If you say something, maybe someone who needs treatment or correct medication can actually receive it. Think seriously about taking a psychological first aid of mental health first aid course. I know that it may sound a little Utopian, but maybe we can help someone before they take someone’s life. If we say something early, maybe the police can help defuse the situation. We are supposed to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I think that it is a shame that more people do not live that way, and you don’t have to go to my church to think that way. We use different terms these days to be politically correct and soften the blow to what is
going on. When I was working EMS, I used to go to things that people classified as riots but today it is known as “civil unrest." A fight used to be a fight, not an “altercation." When someone needs help, they need help. When someone is behaving erratically, help them to get the help that they may need. Caring about people is also caring enough to speak out. It's bad when fire and EMS have targets on their backs, causing the need for bulletproof vests. My heart also goes out to the police who have to wear the vests all the time. They also have to end someone’s life when that person is ending so many lives. There has also become a new term used, "suicide by police officer." In the emergency services, we take care of people of any race, color, creed, or orientation, and same thing goes for our fellow responders. Who cares what you are, just as long as you can do the job. I think that we, as emergency services, can teach the public how to act. So many emergency services are also involved in the community. All those who are coaches or scout leaders, or civic leaders or people who mentor the youth, or assist other people, raise your hands. Thank you for doing it. You have the power to change lives. By your acts, you may unknowingly change someone’s destructive behavior or thoughts. I strongly believe that each person is a walking encyclopedia. They have learned so much, experienced so much and have a wealth of stories. And when a person dies, usually, that entire library is lost. My mind goes to the youth of Sandy Hook, and how many of those lives did not get a chance to live to the plans that were set before them. Each life that is taken affects so many people. Please keep in your mind and prayers all those who are no longer with us, no matter their background, political view, or anything else that may be different than yours. A life is a precious thing. Lives matter.
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Units bringing a second line into the basement.
ALLEN EPSTEIN
ALLEN EPSTEIN
Firefighters rescue a dog from the fire building.
ALLEN EPSTEIN
Basement fire in Queens On June 22nd, firefighters reported a fire in the basement of a two-story brick structure, with extension to the first-floor. Three lines were used and two additional engines as well as two additional trucks were requested to the scene.
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1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY