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Sixty years ago today, March 30th 1960 I became a member of the Fire Department City of New York. When I came out of the Navy in 1958 I was lucky as three civil service tests were given within a few months, NYPD, FDNY and NY State Trooper. I took them, passed, and waited to be called by any of...

I have no idea, first I have heard of this. I was a BC in the 10th Battalion, promoted to DC the day before this tragic incident.  A few days after the deaths I was surplus (no empty DC spot that day tour) and was assigned to the Bureau of Operations for the day tour. As you can imagine the...

There were two incidents in 1980 with our then rope. A fire company was lifting an air-conditioning unit to a FH second floor window when the rope broke as the unit was being lifted, report was forwarded by the company. A fire company was drilling doing single slides from the roof of a 2 story...

Promoted to Lieutenant August 1969 I covered in the 19th Battalion for five months, then I put in for and was assigned to 50 engine on 1/7/70. Loved the house, loved the men, probably my best years in the department. The Captain at this time was Carlos Rivera who would rise through the ranks and...

I would like to add my admiration and respect for Lt. Jim McClay. During my time in 82 myself and Jim were in the same group number,7. As I have written before to keep 82's numbers down we were on forced interchange every second night tour to either E295 or 297. The night tours in between Sq. 2...

My largest fire as a firefighter, company officer or chief officer was on January 23rd, 1985. I had the City Wide Command Chief (CWCC) duties for that night tour. During my time at 1700 hours a staff chief, usually a Deputy Assistant Chief, had the CWCC duties. The CWCC had the responsibilities...

It would be great if what we write on this site could save a life, or a home. Unfortunately though we can't teach "go with your gut." My first days, fires, in the FDNY my gut was saying to me "what the hell am I doing here?" Your gut grows as your experience grows. Will your gut always be right...

Thanks guys, but, I'm not going to stick my head in a gas oven yet or jump from a tall building. I hope to post on other threads when/if I have anything to contribute. My wife refuses to stand for a roll call for me any longer so, you guys are my best connection(s) to a job I loved and a...

This will probably be my last post to this thread as I have run out of any worthwhile remembrance from my years in the department. I was once asked once what I thought was my greatest achievement after these 37 years. My answer was simple and easy, that after my tours all my guys went home. But...

O.K. Bill someday when I can get together with you guys I will bring it with me.

I was assigned to L127 at this time. Didn't work the incident. Normally second due at the box 298 and 127 went in first. The guys described arriving with no ignition the gas venting sounded like a jet engine. The vapors from the escaping gas caused an oxygen deficiency in the immediate area...

March comes in with St. Patrick's Day 17 days later. Two memories about St. Patrick's Day, one a beloved brother and the other a fire. As I have written my first day on the job was assigned to a fire company in the 6th Division, no training until our class would start in about a month. My...

Thank you for the post Turk. There are probably a hundred or more stories like yours out there.

Every working fire (one or more rooms involved on arrival) is a danger to the occupants and responding/arriving firefighters. Firefighters survival/safety (I feel) is based on 10%equipment, 10% training, 30% experience and 50% luck. I was always thankfully amazed that more firefighters were not...

At hi-rise operations the FDNY has three command positions. The Operation Command on the floor below the fire floor, Staging Command two floor below the fire floor and the Lobby Command. Next month will be the 26th anniversary of the first World Trade Center attack 2/93. My assignment that day...

Rest in Peace. May the good Lord bring whatever comfort he can to your family.

The opening of the tin house, sadly I remember the day well. Was working the 9x6 that day in 50. L19 had building inspection that day. Wanting to insure trucks available during those days when the truck in qtrs had building inspection (1000-1300) they would use the engine in qtrs for the...

1960 the Division of Training AKA The Rock. A few months before I was appointed to the department in 1960 the NY Daily News wrote an article about the FDNY Unions being at war with the then Fire Commissioner Edward Cavanaugh. This war was over fire companies being brought to the Division of...

It may have been 68jk09, been a lot of years. But I believe it was a L I Pipeline worker. When I first was given Pipeline Coordinator at the boro I went over to Bayonne to familiarize myself with the companies procedures. Had a nice visit with their plant supervisor, fellow named Russ. He was...

One of the brothers who must be remembered in this History section, BC Pete Valenzano, the father of the FDNY foam system/coordinators. I thought of Pete when I saw on D.O.112 the department is looking for a BC to assume the duties of the Foam Program Manager. One of my first assignments on the...