11/9/25 Brooklyn 3rd Alarm Box 0043

[captaindewey50267021@gm]

Once again, I know that time can be short when people are trapped or fire is rapidly spreading but it is UNSAFE Not to have all Tower Ladder tormentors fully extended and locked in place. Tower Ladders have turned over or fell over due to not taking the time to fully extend all the Tormentor and Jacks. The chasse of the tower ladder is designed to have the tormentors and jacks fully down and locked and the body of the rig and tire slightly off the ground. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.

 

[Rich M]

Although it would not have been assigned on this box, I remember the Fireboat at the foot of Noble St. Another loss for Greenpoint.

 

[FDNYSTATENISLAND]

Although it would not have been assigned on this box, I remember the Fireboat at the foot of Noble St. Another loss for Greenpoint.

With the way marine units are assigned to boxes now I wouldn’t be surprised if it were assigned lol

 

[IRONLUNG]

Once again, I know that time can be short when people are trapped or fire is rapidly spreading but it is UNSAFE Not to have all Tower Ladder tormentors fully extended and locked in place. Tower Ladders have turned over or fell over due to not taking the time to fully extend all the Tormentor and Jacks. The chasse of the tower ladder is designed to have the tormentors and jacks fully down and locked and the body of the rig and tire slightly off the ground. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.

were you ever a TL chauffeur? companies do this across the boroughs all the time due to restrictions and tight streets. it actually gets you in the best position rather than find a spot to put all tormentors down and be in a less advantageous position. its not rocket science, just keep the boom away from the short jacked side.

 

[BITBOF]

Once had a fire with numerous people saved from TL. LCC did a phenomenal job and went to medal day for it. Safety Chief comes over to all of us at back of rig at the end of the job and the very 1st thing he says to the lcc is "you know you didnt have any of the pins in the outriggers". Every second counts and that particular fire we didnt have seconds to spare.
As far as short jacking, did it often. Very tight blocks really had no choice sometimes. All good obv as long as the working side is down imo

 

[captaindewey50267021@gm]

Yes, I was both a TL Chauffeur and an ECC. I was assigned to TL-18, a Lieutenant in TL-21 and was U.F.O as the Captain of TL-7. I worked in Tower Ladders over 20 years of my 30-year FDNY Career. As I stated there are times due to the life hazard endangered or a rapidly extending fire you have to do what you must do. I also know that companies all across the FDNY are dealing with tight streets and illegally parked vehicles. As you said, "Every Second Counts" and I know you are right and are well intentioned. TL-44 in the South Bronx tipped over when a rescue of trapped people required them to only partially extend the tormentor onto a wall instead of to the ground, and the rig slipped on the ice bellow it's wheels. The problem also exists if is if the boom must be moved over to the side without the tormentors fully down. So, a real danger of tipping exists. Yes, you have to do what you have to do. The photo Second to last is myself as a Firefighter in TL-18 with my friend ff. Bob DeMartini (later Ff. In Rescue 5) on the Lower East Side in think in `1978 or 79, a 4th Alarm at E. 2nd St. near Ave. A. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Retired
Here are some photos.