My younger Buff years

[nfd2004]

Our friend "mikeindabronx" has advised me that he put up a new page for his web site www.fdnysbravest.com . So as only Mike can show us, let us take a look back into what I call; "Mikes Younger Buff Years", as he added Page 15 to his Excellent collection. Once again, Thanks Mike. I think we all agree that your pictures are some of the Best out there.

  www.fdnysbravest.com

  "mikeindabronx" has just added Page 19 to his Excellent web site of photos from the 1980s of the Bronx/Harlem. This is a little different from his previous pages. These photos are black and white Vintage Photos of FDNYs Rescue 1 and Engine 65. I don't think site owner and newly promoted Lt Tommy Bendick worked this rig when he was assigned to Engine 65. These are "Mike's Younger Buff Years", (www.fdnysbravest.com).

  The Ahrens Fox Video Library produced a video called "Firefighting in New York". It was a black and white video of Rescue Co 1 during the 1960s. I remember it being a Sunday night, and that show was playing on a NYC TV station at 10 pm. I was maybe 10 or 11 years old and had to go to school the next day. But my parents let me stay up to watch it. It was a documentary about Rescue 1 and the job that fire company does in New York City.

  I think it was that show, which was later produced in video, that sparked my interest in the FDNY. That was maybe 1962/1963. A few years later in 1968 is when I got the invite to visit the firehouse on Carlton Ave and I rode with Rescue 2. For me, everything else just feel into place. I got to see the busy FDNY War Years as they happened. I saw the first FDNY Tower Ladders go to work. A new type of Ladder Truck was beginning to appear that didn't use a tiller man, called a rearmount ladder. Everybody rode inside the cab of an Engine and nobody rode the back step anymore. 1 3/4" hose replaced 1 1/2" hose. It didn't matter what day or what time I made a buff trip to NYC, it was a sure thing to see fires. I was lucky enopugh to ride some of the busiest companies in the city. Besides Rescue 2, I rode Eng 41 (before it was Squad 41), Eng 82, Eng 92, Eng 290, Ladder 31, Ladder 103, Ladder 176 @ the Tin House. Everybody in those firehouses treated me Great. I hope some of these stories have been able to give a small clue of what it was like for these FDNY Firefighters, who fought the fires of the lates 60s, the 70s, and into the 80s.

  Thanks to a web site like this, a few books that were written, those that were a part of it, and those that saw it for themselves. Because of that, a small portion of the real stories that actually did happen, are able to be told.

   

[johnd248]

I doubt TV had been created when Willy D was 10 years old.

[fdce54]

I doubt TV had been created when Willy D was 10 years old.

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha.............

[memory master]

Can't remember the year, but as a kid I saw a segment on E22/L13 & the Bn. on a Sunday morning while watching Sandy Becker host "Wonderama." It had to be around 1958 or 1959.

[Bxboro]

Don't throw stones Johnny D.......I'm sure you shoveled your share of coal on Church Ave !!!!!!!!!!

[nfd2004]

Don't throw stones Johnny D.......I'm sure you shoveled your share of coal on Church Ave !!!!!!!!!!

  Tell 'em Scott (Bxboro). That's great my man.

  And the other guy that calls himself "fdce54" is no spring chicken himself.

  And Memory master, I know the program you are talking about. Later a video came out on that show, E22/L13.

[fdce54]

Don't throw stones Johnny D.......I'm sure you shoveled your share of coal on Church Ave !!!!!!!!!!

  Tell 'em Scott (Bxboro). That's great my man.

  And the other guy that calls himself "fdce54" is no spring chicken himself.

  And Memory master, I know the program you are talking about. Later a video came out on that show, E22/L13.

I'm a kid compared to you old goats.............lol.

[guitarman314]

65 Engine did not have the second diesel for long. It went to Engine 232 in Brownsville when it was organized in 1966.

Then they got a '54 Mack (Shop #1099) 1000gpm open cab rig that had previously served as E10 then E83's hosewagon. An interesting thing was that it was E 83's wagon when I buffed in the 14th Bn around 1965-66 then it became E65's rig in 1967-68 when I worked in the camera store next door @45 W. 43rd St.. Back in those days Rescue 1's MackL was there too, parked behind the engine.

[minerva14road]

As a young guy, who wasn't born until the mid 1980's, it has been nice to have all of you gentlemen share your stories of the the war years here for all to see. I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on about those busy times and learning about the many great men, legends, the worked during those times and in my mind, made the department into what it is today. The stories here have been great!

On another note, I was unfortunately caught up in the Judge Garafius's decision, after I had done well on Exam 6019 and was set to go to the academy, with many others, until he threw out our list. I fortunately was able to score well on Exam 2000 and if I'm fortunate, if there are no more surprises, I should have the privilege of heading to the academy. The stories here have helped to keep me motivated and focused on my goal. so for that, I thank you all for sharing these stories. It is appreciated.

[grumpy grizzly]

Got screwed by the liberals in Boston in early 70;s, a Vietnam vet who earned the Purple Heart. Somebody bitched about vets getting preference, so the test was thrown out, I was up there with vet's preference and getting wounded. Hope you succeed, and please STAY IN SHAPE!! Lots of bitching about out of shape candidates @ the Academy.Make us proud! GG

[nfd2004]

There have been many of us, who along those past years, lost out on job we wanted because of some judges order. But during those 70s and into the 80s came out the Best Firefighters who ever lived. And although the subject here is about the FDNY War Years, many other cities throughout this country saw their own fire activity skyrocket. Whether it was the FDNY, Boston, Providence, Bridgeport, Yonkers, or Newark. Besides the FDNY, I saw many jobs in those cities during that time. In anyone of those cities, there were jobs every night.

  It just seems to me that once the fires were peaking out in the FDNY, many of those burned out residents began to relocate to these other cities, and once there, the burning cycle started in these cities. Just like they did in NYC.

  Some of us didn't really get the job we wanted. But I did get to see the busiest years any city fire dept faced in their entire history. For most the fire activity has slowed down now, as many blocks have been burned out. Now places like Detroit and Baltimore are seeing heavy fire activity as they reach the peaks of their fire activity years.

  "minerva14road" good luck with your interest in the fire service. And yes, there's alot of great stories posted here. Some really hard to believe these days, but they sure are True. Just the way it was then.

[mack]

Bill - I agree with all you said.  I was fortunate to see a lot growing up in the period you described and admire all who served, starting with my father.  That said, I also want to note that the young members working in our firehouses today are motivated, well-trained, smart.  They are very good - firefighters, EMTs, paramedics.  50 years ago, I was amazed to see guys go from one fire to the next, over and over - all night long.  They had rubber coats and boots, leather helmets, axes and operated without - masks, individual radio, thermal imaging camera, FAST trucks, safety officer etc.  They were remarkable.  Today, however, members have to be able to respond to 5 or 6 EMS calls a night - diagnose and stabilize heart attacks and strokes - start IV lines  - administer drugs - and still be able to respond to structural fires, HAZMAT incidents, car accidents.   Asleep at 3:00AM - trying to find a pulse at 3:04AM - performing Emergency Room-type procedures at 3:07AM.  Maybe there are as many or more lives saved today on tough ALS medical calls as there used to be pulling fire victims out of burning tenaments. The job has changed a lot - but it also has not changed a lot.

[nfd2004]

Yes "Mack" you are absolutely correct. One such case that I know of is a retired firefighter who went into cardiac arrest. His heart stopped and he stopped breathing. He is alive today because of what those firefighters did.

Many places today the rigs make 10-15 runs or more a day. It might not be what some of us here know as the War Years, but many are dealing with their own type of War Years. From drug overdoses to shootings, to serious motor vehicle accidents. All in the course of one shift.

[Charging in 113]

When I was about 15 I went to my dads company Christmas party. He was the captain of the truck at that time he was Acting battalion chief ABCing they call it. He showed up to the party. Lets just say Santa came and handed me two tickets to that nights rangers game I was  like what do I do how do I get there. It was so planned so I went back to the fire house where the chief was stationed. As we were sitting there waiting for the tour to be over. I was asked by my father what would you rather go to the ranger game or a fire ? I said day that is a tough decision. I was a fifteen year old kid who loved to see fire man in action. Just as the questions were asked the bells went off and we went out on a run it was a false alarm. As we were backing in to the house the alarm went off  again this time it was to a fire. As we rolled up there was fire out of the Windows and tyre the roof very exciting. As this was all. Going on I remembered about the game and I my dad showed up and spoke to the deputy already so we were 10-8. We ended up making the ranger game a little late but they one, it's amazing you get two things in one night. Thanks dad Rip

[nfd2004]

 Back in My Younger Buff Years I had buffed a job in Bridgeport, Ct. There I met an older buff who at the time seemed Really Old to me. He was about 55 years old, while I was in my 30s. He told me how he would go down to NYC and buff the jobs. I told him that I did the same thing. So we got together and made many trips to buff the FDNY over the years. We spent many days and nights in the area of Eng 92 and Lad 44 as that area was a hot spot in the 1980s. I think just about every trip down to the Bronx during those years we would see 92/44 operating. And the surrounding companies were doing the same thing.

  I lost touch with my old buffing friend. He was in great shape in his mid 50s. He would run down those streets with camera in one hand and his scanner in the other. He loved buffing the FDNY. I recently found out that he's still around. He is now 89 years old and wants me to take him buffing those Bronx streets again. He is a part of the Greatest Generation. He grew up in the Great Depression, Went on to fight in WWII, and helped build America during the 1950s. The guy is amazing. He remembers alot of the jobs we caught together. He is ready to go.

  So I guess for all you FDNY members, if you happen to see two old guys with scanners and cameras following you through the streets, it may not be "mikeindabronx" or "johnd248" this time. It could be Willy "D" and his 89 year old friend, Kenny "K" (as in Murray the K, with a Blast from the Past).