5/8/21 Bronx 10-75 Box 2173

Joined
Jan 20, 2014
Messages
16,073
Fire Location: 353 Cypress Ave

Fire out the windows 4th fl of a 6 story NFP 75x75

B-14 All Hands. Extra Engine & Truck

E-83,60,73,71,50s/c
L-29,17,42(Fast),19s/c
B-14,26
R-3
Sq-41
D-6
Rac-3

F109B402-CAF4-4AEF-9D80-FA836350F51A.jpeg

6E0FA837-9659-49ED-8BFB-F47CDA4E4A93.jpegB1965BD7-CA4C-4581-A3BC-00E33B3F06B8.jpeg
 
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Dec 6, 2007
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T123 ken, please see attached or maps.nyc.gov. This building is nearly identical to the one I grew up in 60 blocks to the North in Bedford Park. Not surprising, as they were both built in the same year.
 

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Joined
Dec 6, 2007
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1,508
Nice stop. Fire out 3-4 windows.
And really great and timely photos. Any details as to who/how they were taken? Are those civilians on the fire escape on the floor above the fire? Any story there (other than it being routine work by the truckies)?
 
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Feb 7, 2021
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And really great and timely photos. Any details as to who/how they were taken? Are those civilians on the fire escape on the floor above the fire? Any story there (other than it being routine work by the truckies)?
First 2 photos are from citizen app.
 
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Sep 8, 2013
Messages
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T123 ken, please see attached or maps.nyc.gov. This building is nearly identical to the one I grew up in 60 blocks to the North in Bedford Park. Not surprising, as they were both built in the same year.
I see what you're referencing, but if I were giving a size up based on what I saw I would say it's six stories.
Perhaps your sources consider the first floor a cellar, but it's at the very least a basement and therefore considered a story.
Anyone else want to chime in?
 
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Apr 2, 2015
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I see what you're referencing, but if I were giving a size up based on what I saw I would say it's six stories.
Perhaps your sources consider the first floor a cellar, but it's at the very least a basement and therefore considered a story.
Anyone else want to chime in?
I see 5 fire escape balconies on the front of this building. In my professional opinion, despite what the website says, that makes it a 6 story building. If I’m raising an aerial ladder or a bucket to the roof, I know I’m going over 60 feet in the air to get there. JMO!
 
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May 6, 2010
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I don't remember this particular bldg but depending on what the lowest fl is considered or where it is counted from or by what source it could be 5 or 6 but is listed here as 5 for what that interpretation is worth .... https://streeteasy.com/building/353-cypress-avenue-bronx ...... i think t123ken's size makes sense also.... in general knowing a bldg's apartment designation's beforehand is important as some may have letters or numbers or a separate designation such as "L" for the basement / cellar level or walk in Lobby Level....one thing for sure at this Fire as viewed from the front ( in the photo) is the Fire fl was the Third down from the roof which would help locate the Fire from the rear.....JMO.
 
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
1,508
I see what you're referencing, but if I were giving a size up based on what I saw I would say it's six stories.
Perhaps your sources consider the first floor a cellar, but it's at the very least a basement and therefore considered a story.
Anyone else want to chime in?
T123, I will first reference what EdMc wrote last year regarding an incident at Bronx Box 3525...

...“An interesting note for the size up of this building, when you look at the front of the building it almost looks like a 6 story building, but the size up given is a 5 story non-fireproof. When I worked as a back up aide in da Bronx I was told that where the front door stairs led is the first floor. So if you google map the front of the building you can see the stairs go up to the first floor and then you count from there. Also, to my knowledge, when tenements got built during this time, they did not require an elevator for 5 stories or less, the sixth floor you had to install one.”

I believe you are referring to the apartments at street level as the first floor. That is incorrect. Those apartments (and sometimes storefronts) are on the GROUND FLOOR. They are not a cellar or a storey (I still spell the word the way it was taught to me, way back when!). Ground floor units provide no entryway into the interior of the building or the main stairwell. Cellers, of course, are below ground level in the basement.

The first storey begins on the first floor which, as EdMc points out, begins where the main entry way leads to. In this building that means up a few stairs into the throat, then left or right up a few more steps, and then you are on the first floor or storey. The main stairwell begins there. In some buildings there are no ground floor units and the main entryway might only be a step or two up from the the street level, and that is then the first floor or storey.

This is the convention that is used in all matters of the building trades and was in the FDNY until only recently. Maps.nyc.gov, classifies this building as a five storey in accordance with accepted building codes. Why would the Department operate in contravention to existing standards?

I do not mean to be a wise ass, but it occurs to me that those who are mis calculating the number of storeys have never lived in these buildings. Those of us who have grown up in them can size up a five or six storey structure in a New York minute, so to speak. And a rule of thumb, elevator = 6 storey, walkup = 5.

But by now I am beating a dead horse here... no more “storey” comments from me, I promise.
 
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