When I was a Lieutenant in Tower Ladder 21, in the 1980s, Rescue 1 was quartered with us and Eng. 34. We all responded to a fire in a on 7th Ave. at W. 47 St. At that fire Rescue 1 made two (2) Lifesaving Roof Rope Rescues at one fire, with the assistance of the Roofman from L-24. At the same fire my roof team from Tower Ladder 21 got reports of an officer in trouble and in danger on the fire floor, = the top floor. and was in a "Bowland on a Bite" =Rope harness knot, ready to be lowered off the roof down to the endangered officer on the top floor. At the same time members of multiple units, including my own unit TL-21were attempting to reach those trapped via the interior of the building. The endangered officer was found and safely removed to the floor below the fire, so the 3rd Lifesaving Rope Rescue was not needed. FDNY members practice the Lifesaving Rope Evolutions enough that Handi-Talkie radio chatter is kept to a minimum. A "substantial object" must be found to anchor the firefighter lowering his brother/sister firefighter, to the person/s trapped. Years ago, we would use the Parapet wall to hold the hook of the lowering firefighter in place, but this is NOT Safe. All too often the Parapet/s are so deteriorated that they fail when the pressure of the Life Saving Belt Hook is placed against them. A good friend of mine was lowering a brother fireman in a roof rope rescue, when the Lifesaving Belt Hook pulled right through the parapet almost collapsing the Parapet wall. Other Firemen on the roof held the Parapet wall in place until the rescue was made.
Photos Below of the 7th Ave, Roof Rope rescues. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.