Engine 251 Glen Oaks, Queens, New York
ENGINE 251 BROOKLYN ORGANIZED AS ENGINE 51, BROOKLYN FIRE DEPT
ORG. 47/48 Washington Ave. (Dec. 15, 1897)
CHANGE To Engine 51, FDNY (Jan. 28, 1898)
CHANGE To Engine 151 (Oct. 1, 1899)
CHANGE To Engine 251 (Jan. 1, 1913)
RELOC. 166 Clymer St. At E-211 (Nov. 24, 1941)
NQTRS. 26 Hooper St. W/ E-211 (May 24, 1944)
DISB. (Nov. 1, 1946)
ENGINE 251-2 BROOKLYN ORGANIZED AS ENGINE 151-2
ORG. 47/48 Washington Ave. At E-151 (Dec. 1, 1907)
CHANGE To Org. Engine 251-2 (Jan. 1, 1913)
DISB. (May 1, 1918)
ENGINE 251 QUEENS
REORG. 254-20 Union Turnpike (Oct. 1, 1952)
47/48 Washington Ave. firehouse 1897-1941
2/26/1920 six Brooklyn, NY (FDNY) firefighters from Engine 251 died at the Brooklyn Union Gas fire, Box # 33-543, 556 Kent Avenue. “Six members of Engine 251 lost their lives fighting a three-alarm fire in an oil storage tank at the Brooklyn Union Gas Company, Nassau Works at Kent Avenue and Rush Street. A fire started in the drip pan of a forty-foot long by ten-foot high oil tank. The oil tank was burning under a corrugated iron shed. Engine 251, the first company to arrive, started working on the fire in the tank. Other companies were working on protecting the numerous other tanks in the area. An explosion in one of the tar tanks was what the firefighters were fighting. Across the Basin (Wallabout Market), a bare 150 yards, were a dozen ships near the Navy Yard’s Cob Dock. North of the gas company plant was the powerhouse of the BRT subway. The combined efforts of the fire companies failed to stem the flames in the fuel tank. The heat became so intense that the windows in the main building began to crack. The Acting Chief ordered his men away from a smaller tank to pour more water on the surrounding buildings when the tank exploded. The flames flared pointblank into the faces of many firefighters, enveloping them suddenly, then clearing, leaving the men staggering back. Their faces and heads were burned almost black and they were dazed and almost crazed by the pain. As quick as it happened it was over. Other firefighters ran over to help their brothers. The other firefighters all survived after a long recuperating period. The fire caused very little damage to the complex and only damaged the one oil tank that exploded. Engine 251 had nine men that day, three members were with the apparatus at the time of the explosion.”
FIREFIGHTER THOMAS F. BRENNAN ENG 251, died FEBRUARY 26, 1920, BURNT TO DEATH
FIREFIGHTER MICHAEL KARKEL ENG 251, died FEBRUARY 26, 1920, BURNT TO DEATH
FIREFIGHTER JAMES BRENNAN ENG 251, injured FEB. 26, 1920, died FEBRUARY 28, 1920, BURNS
FIREFIGHTER FRANK CALLMEYER ENG 251, injured FEB. 26, 1920, died MARCH 3, 1920 BURNS
FIREFIGHTER JAMES J. HUGHES (1), ENGINE 251, injured FEB. 26, died 1920 MARCH 3, 1920
CAPTAIN SAMUEL BROWN, ENG 251, Injured FEB. 26, 1920 died Mar. 26, 1920 Box # 33-543, 556 KENT AVE. BURNS
166 Clymer St firehouse 1941-1944
26 Hooper St. firehouse 1944-1946
254-20 Union Turnpike 1952-current