SUPER PUMPER 1

With all these major fires in Brooklyn and today in Queens, what are the saving the "Super Pumper" FOR ? I worked from time to time in the old Mack Super Pumper System and a Satellite responded, as is done now, on every 2nd Alarm. But the old Mack Super Pumper and Tender and 2 additional Satellites responded on the 3rd alarm. Why have these units if you don't use them major fires?View attachment 43607View attachment 43608View attachment 43609View attachment 43610View attachment 43611 Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired
Better to have them there and not need them rather then to need them and their not there.
However I am completely unsure why they aren't used more, could possibly the positioning apparatus 🤷‍♂️
 
With all these major fires in Brooklyn and today in Queens, what are the saving the "Super Pumper" FOR ? I worked from time to time in the old Mack Super Pumper System and a Satellite responded, as is done now, on every 2nd Alarm. But the old Mack Super Pumper and Tender and 2 additional Satellites responded on the 3rd alarm. Why have these units if you don't use them major fires?View attachment 43607View attachment 43608View attachment 43609View attachment 43610View attachment 43611 Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired

Someone may correct me if I'm wrong but I think it has to do with Internal politics. The chief who had a vision for the unit, is no longer with the FDNY for what ever reason. The current administration doesn't really know or care what to do with it so it became an after thought.
 
Last edited:
We Have To Remember How Much Of A Pain The Super Pumper Is To Set Up.. Not As Easy As You Think. Even Harder To Get It Into A Good Position At A Fire w/ It Operating.
 
We Have To Remember How Much Of A Pain The Super Pumper Is To Set Up.. Not As Easy As You Think. Even Harder To Get It Into A Good Position At A Fire w/ It Operating.
Yes the fire at the maintenance garage it was almost 45 minutes, I think all they did was supply one or two units, if that.
 
We Have To Remember How Much Of A Pain The Super Pumper Is To Set Up.. Not As Easy As You Think. Even Harder To Get It Into A Good Position At A Fire w/ It OpOperating.
It is but at the same time it's not. Just thinking outside the box here, it's a big pump. It doesn't need to be in front of the bldg. If it can get a decent water supply, from whatever source, it can feed a Satellite manifold or the satellite itself. Or both. It would be great to be in front, but as an alternative feeding a satellite would work. But that's just me.
 
FIRE DEPARTMENT • CITY OF NEW YORK Supplement No. 53 to Department Order No. 68
June 18, 2024 Edited Online Edition
page1image3117053424 page1image3117054032
AMENDMENTS TO FD MANUALS
2.1.1 AUC 254
AUC 254 titled Chauffeur Guidelines dated December 16, 2014, is amended as follows:
Delete: Section 4.5 & 4.6 Insert: Section 4.5, 4.6 & 4.7 to read:
  1. 4.5 Super Pumper Engine Companies and their designated back-up shall start each tour with at least one (1)
    school trained chauffeur and at least one (1) school trained Super Pumper chauffeur.
  2. 4.6 When a designated back-up unit is staffed with one (1) school trained chauffeur and one (1) company trained chauffeur and is assigned to pick up a special unit's second piece, they shall be guided by the
    following:
    • The company trained chauffeur shall drive the assigned apparatus accompanied by the officer. • The school trained chauffeur shall drive the second piece accompanied by another firefighter. • The assigned apparatus and the second piece shall travel as a convoy.
  3. 4.7 All other Special Units require only an operator with a valid NYS Driver's License.
Under Section: 6.2 Add: Super Pumper
Affected pages 5-6 (Rev. 06/18/24) reflecting this change have been issued and forwarded to all Bureaus and Divisions for equal distribution to all units under their command.
 
Super pumped is quartered at E260, correct? What are the backup companies for the SP?
291 is the back up. If I remember correctly, SP1 is at 238 and 260 has the foam truck. I think they need to redo the floors to get SP1 into 260s bldg. And the foam truck to 238.
 
Did the super pumper respond to either multiple this morning?
Not seeing it on the active 4th in da Bronx

260 is/was acting 55 and 291 is/ was acting 33 which may be part of the problem.
 
Last edited:
I worked in the "OLD" Super Pumper System from time to time in the 1970 & early 1980s. The complexity of setting up the new Super Pumper is result of the complex procedures now in place. In the old Mack super Pumper, a Satellite would normally respond on the 2nd alarm, and if required lay, then one or two 4 1/2" supply line into the fire, if needed. If the Fire went to a 3rd Alarm the Mack Super Pumper and 2 additional Satellites would respond. If very large caliber streams were required, the Super Pumper or regular Engine Companies, would supply water via the 4 1/2" hose the 2nd alarm Satellite had stretched, or a Satellite Manifold close to the fire. For really large fires the Mack Super Pumper would receive water from multiple 4 1/2" supply lines hooked up to multiple Hydrants in areas where large water mains were present OR from 4 1/2" supply lines from a Fireboat/s OR by the Super Pumper drafting with 12" fiberglass suctions. The output of the Mack Super Pumper could supply the Intelagiant Monitor on the cab of the Super Pumper Tender or any or all of the Satellites, on the scene. It was not a fast operation to be sure, but it was done reasonable often during the "war years" Go online my friend there are a lot of photos of the old Mack Super Pumper in action see for yourself. SomeFDNY Super Pumnper Tender at Manh. 7th Alarm .jpgfdny_photos_bravest Super Pumper Hooked Up.jpgFDNY Super Pumper Tender Cab In Front of Major Fire.jpgFDNY Sattelite Manifold.jpgFDNY Super Pumper_1 in the Snow.jpg photos shown. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired,
 
View attachment 46681That’s the Raleigh warehouse on the right with the Hebrew National sign. Last building in the Stanley soap works complex fire that didn’t burn to the ground till a few months lasted after the original fire.
As I look at this picture it reaffirms why most of us retirees have premature hearing loss. No A/C in those days. So half the year you rode with the windows down. Look right above the Chauffeur's head. Federal siren and Airhorn. And back then in the jumpseats we all had the Detroit 6V92 or 8V92 rattling in our ears with just a single sheet of diamond plate separating us from the engine. Very little insulation back then. Dam those engine covers could get hot at times.
 
Pretty sure SP 1 is still at 238 and 238s foam rig is at 260. Eventually they'll swap when 260 gets a new floor.
E260 still has there own foam rig labeled Foam 260. E238 had the foam tender that went out of service a few years ago. I'm sure when the rigs swap it will then be renumbered for E238
 
Back
Top