4/21/26 Bronx 5th Alarm Box 3326

Its good to read the run down of this incident posted by Signal73 and others. Then to watch the excellent videos filmed by Skyler and THEMAJESTIRIU of the fire., much appreciated to all contributors.
 
In FDNY the original reason for Rescue Companies was to rescue firefighters. When I was a Lieutenant, I had the honor of covering tours in FDNY Rescue 1. My friend Lt. Jim Curran Rescue 1, told me that no matter what you were assigned to do working in a FDNY Rescue, always remember your primary duty is to rescue firefighters. I spent 30 years in the FDNY and worked in some of the busiest fire units in the FDNY. S.O.C. units often have multiple duties at fires so that can delay them on the fire scene in getting to a trapped member. In Volley land and in the FDNY the need for a dedicated FAST/RIT team available to assist members truly exists. If you research the FAST/Maydays! on actual firegrounds most of the time the FAST/RIT unit/team, rescue the trapped firefighter/s only about 11% of the time. Also, often Nationally the Maydays! happen before a Chief is on the scene. If you are the firefighter trapped, you most surly want to know that a unit has been set aside to come and save you. I fact 2 or more units should be dedicated to FAST/RIT/Mayday! Including a R.I.C.E. = Rapid Intervention Company Engine, as additional hose lines must often be used to protect the firefighter/s removal/s operations. I have taught FAST/RIT operation for years and FAST/RIT teams indeed saves lives.
Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired
 
To my knowledge and in practice the term “isolated building” talked about during drills and included in CIDS was to let everyone know this building may be “out of the ordinary”.

The roof FFs know getting to roof may be tricky due to no adjoining building. LCC know they may be pressed to get very crafty getting acess to roof. A first due TL may leave spot for aerial to get ladder up, etc…

Is building isolated with only one stair? That would be on CIDS. Now roof guy knows he doesn’t have possibility of
A 2nd stair in different wing that might be used if not compromised by fire conditions in other wing.

Isolated building, single stair, rig can’t get to roof? now you’re taking the fire escape to roof. And all the challenges that taking that way brings. If fire conditions block the fire escape with access to roof, well now roof access isn’t happening until fire conditions are controlled to a degree that access can finally be safely
"Nothing shall deter the roof man from getting to his position"
Going by SOG's for the roof position in multiple dwellings, the options to get to the roof are 1. adjoining building, 2. aerial, 3. rear fire escape.
Exp 2 would not have allowed roof access to the fire building because of the difference in height. They needed a ladder (I believe a scissor ladder?) to retreat from the fire building to the exp 2 roof.
With that in mind, it was absolutely an isolated building.
 
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