Maybe we will see more SI jobs with relocators as SI continues to grow, develop and as older SI neighborhoods age and have more serious fires.
Many years back, SI, then known as
Richmond, had only 2 BCs and a Deputy assigned to a fire. The third SI BC remained available to cover the island for new incidents. The logic (as explained by old SI BCs) was that it was better to have at least 1 chief familiar with SI to cover any new job especially if operating as the only chief. SI back then was big, had a lot of brush fires, had a relatively poor water supply, had poor unmarked roads and no highways. That was assignment practice, only 2 BCs assigned and 1 remaining available, even though additional Brooklyn or Manhattan chiefs had lengthy runs by ferry to get to SI for a multiple in progress.
There also was a period of time in the 1980s when the 8th Division was disbanded for budget reasons, and SI only had a Boro Commander during daytime hours. The 12th Division covered SI for multiples.
The 8th Division also did not cover any part of Brooklyn as they do now. Even when the VN Bridge opened in the 1960s, the 8th Division remained on SI. Brooklyn had 4 divisions and then a 5th division (17th Div) was organized during the war years in the 1970s.
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