FDNY and NYC Firehouses and Fire Companies

[fdhistorian]

The last two photos of Mack's posting show a small garage on 159th st, around the corner from the front of 71s old quarters on Park Ave. It was built in 1902 and marked a step up in the status of the Bronx in the FDNY. The borough had its own Division headquarters.

It was at first the 4th Division, then the 6th in 1906, then the 7th a year later as the Department expanded across the entire City. The 7th remained there until 1948, when it bounced back and forth from there to E82 until finally settling at E48 in 1956.

The significance of that small garage is that it was designed as the living quarters of the Deputy Chief. In those days of continuous duty, officers above the rank of captain were often provided quarters for themselves and their families. Every chief (there was only one guy for each division and battalion) was ALWAYS on duty, save for his vacation. Each chief ( and captains for that matter) were considered to be "gods" in the chain of command.

When the FDNY went to a 2 platoon system in the 1920s, additional chiefs were assigned and the practice of family living eventually ended.

When Hugh Halligan was assigned as Chief of Division 7, he moved his HQS over to E82, where he had previously served as captain. His family lived on Perry Ave and later in Park Chester.

A lot of history in that small garage, of legendary chiefs, kids and family. The last time I was there, the EMS officer told me it was sealed off, along with the 2d floor of 71s quarters.

3134 Park Ave, Bronx

Division 4 - 1902-1903
Division 5 - 1904-1906
Division 6 - 1906-1907
Division 7 - 1908-1948, 1949-1951  (Temp at 82/31 1948-1949)

 

[nfd2004]

I might have missed it along the thread here, but where was Rescue 3's quarters after they left 71/55 in 1968 ?

Bill, after leaving Engine 71/Ladder 55, Rescue 3 was quartered with Engine 42 at 1781 Monroe Ave. from 7/23/68 to 8/8/68. Once Rescue 3 left, Ladder 56 moved in with Engine 42. Rescue 3 then moved to the quarters of Engine 93/Ladder 45/Battalion 13 at 515 W. 181st St. in Manhattan. On 7/1/92, Rescue 3 made the move back to the Bronx to 453 E. 176th St.

  Thanks Emmett, I didn't realize that Rescue 3 was on 181 St that long ago from 1968. I was discussing with another site member here that I thought Rescue 3 was in the Bronx in the 70s and into the 80s. I was wrong on that one.

 

[3511]

Fdhistorian,

Div 7 went back to E82 from 15 May 1951 until 1 June 1956 when it went to E48. On the latter date Div 6 was revived from 34 years in mothballs and placed at E50.

The South Bronx was starting to heat up.

 

[mack]

Division coverage in the Bronx is difficult to track.  Re-designation/renumbering of divisions is confusing.

It looks like the Bronx has had 2 divisions with a third (9th Division) added during the War Years:


D 4  1902-1903                                                                                                          1995-1997
D 5                1904-1906                                            1949-1951
D 6                                1906-1907                                                            1956-1995              1997-Current
D 6 (E 80 MN)                                1907-1918                            1951-1990


D 7  1907-1995              1997-Current
D 3                  1995-1997               

War Years
D 9  1968-1989

There are some holes in the timelines above.

 

[3511]

Mack, without checking my files,  you pretty much nailed it.

The division #'s changed frequently during the early 1900 s as the Department expanded across the city. The numbers pretty much solidified until the 1950's when the 6th reactivated.

The 5th Division included the 19th Battalion (E's 68, 43, 75, 81, 52, L's 49, 33, 46, 52) for most of the 1900"s. The 5th (hqs at E80) covered northern Manhattan and the West Bronx. The 5th ' s HQS actually moved to my neighborhood at E79 in 1949 but only for two years. I was too young to remember it but do recall my uncle Charles (L37) telling me it was chaos as the house was too small. It had only two two stories, the apparatus floor and the bunk room above it and just one room for the officers. It was built for just a single engine company (79) and L37 was squeezed in later. The tale was also told that two senior deputy chiefs, Hugh Halligan and Frank Turner, both of whom lived within a few blocks of the firehouse, influenced the move for their convenience but it just didn't work out so the 5th went back to Harlem. (When the 27 Battalion went into 79's quarters in 1979 they had to build a new office/bunk room on the apparatus floor where the old hose wagon or CD pumper used to park.)

By the mid 1950's, the south Bronx was already heating up and the 6th was reactivated.  (BN 3 moved up from Manhattan into E82 on the same day and a year later, Manhattan E72 disbanded to become E41-2.)

The 9th was organized because the Bronx was going nuts by 1968.

The Department cut back on the number of divisions and shuffled the #'s in the 1990's in a cost saving move. The numbers were changed back a few years later to reflect the tradtional allignments (i.e., the 6th and 7th in the Bronx).

Kudos to current Bronx Dispatcher Mike Boucher who compiled the lists of firehouse dates and apparatus assignments that many of us on this forum use as reference for our discussions. Years of great research by Mike to catalogue all that info. Thank you, Bronx D 132.

 

[fdhistorian]

Division coverage in the Bronx is difficult to track.  Re-designation/renumbering of divisions is confusing.

It looks like the Bronx has had 2 divisions with a third (9th Division) added during the War Years:


D 4  1902-1903                                                                                                          1995-1997
D 5                1904-1906                                            1949-1951
D 6                                1906-1907                                                            1956-1995              1997-Current
D 6 (E 80 MN)                                1907-1918                            1951-1990


D 7  1907-1995              1997-Current
D 3                  1995-1997               

War Years
D 9  1968-1989

There are some holes in the timelines above.

Mack & 3511 - Another way of looking at the Bronx Divisions:

Bronx has had one Division continuously since 1902.  That Division has had 4 numbers and 4 firehouses as follows:

1902-1904 at 3134 Park Ave as Division 4
1904-1906 still at 3134 Park Ave now as Division 5
1906-1907 still at 3134 Park Ave now as Division 6
1907-1951 still at 3134 Park Ave now as Division 7 (relocated to 1213-1215 Intervale Ave 1948-1949)
1951-1956 at 1213-1215 Intervale Ave still as Division 7
1956-1977 at 2504 Webster Ave still as Division 7
1977-1995 at 2417 Webster Ave still as Division 7
1995-1997 still at 2417 Webster Ave as Division 4
1997 to present still at 2417 Webster Ave as Division 7 again

Division 5 was located in a Bronx firehouse - 2928 Briggs Ave - covering Manhattan and Bronx from 1949-1951 before returning to a Manhattan firehouse.

The second continuous Division was established in 1956.  That Division has had 2 numbers and 2 firehouses as follows:

1956-1976 at 491 E 166th St as Division 6
1976-1995 at 720 Melrose Ave still as Division 6
1995-1997 still at 720 Melrose Ave as Division 3
1997-present still at 720 Melrose Ave as Division 6 again

The third continuous Division was established in 1968 and was always designated as Division 9:

1968-1989 at 1841 White Plains Rd as Division 9.

(Some temporary relocations for less than 90 day periods are not shown here.)

The Division histories get complicated because they were often renumbered without physically moving.  Following Divisions by number has them jumping all over the city (i.e. D6 & D7 & D9 were once in Brooklyn and D6 was once in Staten Island, etc.)

 

[3511]

Great roll-up, fd.

 

[mack]

Thanks 3511 and fdhistorian.  Excellent backgrounds and details.


1978 Bronx Division and Battalion Boundaries -(WNYF):



Bronx Division firehouses:

1902-1904 at 3134 Park Ave as Division 4



1904-1906 still at 3134 Park Ave now as Division 5




1906-1907 still at 3134 Park Ave now as Division 6




1907-1951 still at 3134 Park Ave now as Division 7 (relocated to 1213-1215 Intervale Ave 1948-1949)



1951-1956 at 1213-1215 Intervale Ave still as Division 7



1956-1977 at 2504 Webster Ave still as Division 7



1977-1995 at 2417 Webster Ave still as Division 7



1995-1997 still at 2417 Webster Ave as Division 4



1997 to present still at 2417 Webster Ave as Division 7 again



Division 5 was located in a Bronx firehouse - 2928 Briggs Ave - covering Manhattan and Bronx from 1949-1951 before returning to a Manhattan firehouse.




The second continuous Division was established in 1956.  That Division has had 2 numbers and 2 firehouses as follows:

1956-1976 at 491 E 166th St as Division 6



1976-1995 at 720 Melrose Ave still as Division 6

1995-1997 still at 720 Melrose Ave as Division 3


1997-present still at 720 Melrose Ave as Division 6 again




The third continuous Division was established in 1968 and was always designated as Division 9:

1968-1989 at 1841 White Plains Rd as Division 9.

 

[nfd2004]

In the above photos, the picture that is sixth from the top, old firehouse located at 2504 Webster Ave, later became the quarters for Fire Salvage 3. When Salvage 3 was closed down, as a buff, I caught a second alarm fire in that vacant firehouse. Someone also told me that there was another second alarm fire in that building shortly after.

 

[guitarman314]

Engine 42 firehouse (also Ladder 56/Battalion 17)  1781 Monroe Avenue, Morrisania, Bronx

    Engine 42 organized 1192 Fulton Avenue former quarters volunteer Lady Washington Engine Company 1    1874
    Engine 42 moved to 1180 Fulton Avenue                                                                                                1891
    Engine 42 new firehouse 1192 Fulton Avenue                                                                                          1892
    Engine 42 new firehouse 1781 Monroe Avenue                                                                                        1915

    Ladder 56 organized 1781 Monroe Avenue at Engine 42                                                                          1968
    Ladder 56 moved to 2417 Webster Avenue with Engine 48                                                                      1981

    Battalion 17 located at 1781 Monroe Avenue at Engine 42                                                                1904-1905


1781 Monroe Avenue firehouse:










Engine 42 1941 Mack:


Engine 42:















Ladder 56 1959 85 foot tiller:



Engine 42 - 7956 runs 1977 - led FDNY

ENGINES    RUNS    ENGINES    WORKERS      LADDERS    RUNS    LADDERS    WORKERS
    42        7,956        92            7,006              126        5,651      54            4,142
    92        7,944        45            6,564                56        5,564      108            3,582
    75        7,567      290          6,451                33        5,469      105            3,345
  290        7,488        75            6,264                47        5,315      33            3,260
    45        7,329        73            6,210              114        5,302    114            3,188
    73        7,288        42            5,942              147        5,301    111            3,097
    60        6,496        60            5,590                26        5,005      56              3,047
    88        6,307        68            5,500              105        4,937    107            2,798
    94        6,240        82            5,459                54        4,898      26              2,740
    82        6,132        83            5,307              124        4,884    113            2,730
- Thanks F. Raffa


Engine 42 LODD:  Lieutenant Howard Carpluk, Jr., Engine 42 (detailed to Engine 75). Bronx Box 3-3-2797, 1575 Walton Avenue, died August 28th, 2006 - Probationary Firefighter Michael Reilly, Engine 75, also perished with at Box 3-3-2797.







http://www.backstepfirefighter.com/2010/08/26/illegal-renovation-kills-fdny-lieutenant-and-probie-2006/

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/29/nyregion/29profile.html?_r=0

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200627.html




Never forget.



Pre-FDNY History:

    Lady Washington Engine Company 1 was a volunteer company located at 1192 Fulton Avenue where Engine 42 was originally organized. The volunteer company used a hand-drawn and hand-power engine named the "White Ghost" which was painted on front of carriage. "Morrisania Exempts" and "Organized June 7, 1875" were painted on the sides and on back of the pumper. The pumper also had wheels with copper hub bands and iron tires; body painted white; running gear painted maroon striped gold and black; a hinged hand pole; hose; nozzles; and ropes. The pumper was built in 1851 and used by the Lady Washington Engine Company 1 until 1874, when Morrisania was annexed to New York City and Engine 42 was organized in their firehouse.







Mt Hope neighborhood: 

Demographics:  http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Mount-Hope-Bronx-NY.html

http://forgotten-ny.com/2007/04/east-tremont-echo-park-bronx/

NYPD crime statistics (48th Precinct): http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs048pct.pdf

  Engine 42's Monroe Ave. firehouse was originally built to house Engine 42 & Ladder 50. In fact, the LADDER 50 sign was over the door in the 1960's & 70's.

 

[mack]

1949 Division and Battalion Boundaries:




1960 Divisions and Boundaries:





1963 Division and Battalion Boundaries:




1971 Division and Battalion Boundaries:





1978 Bronx Divisions and Battalions Boundaries:

 

[68jk09]

The sensless renumbering of the DVs bet '95 & '97 was the brainchild of the short lived Commissioner Howard ("Howeird") Safir ..he could not wait to get over to the NYPD as Comm so in the meantine he fooled around w/DV designations & calling FDNY Commands  things like BKLYN NORTH ....BKLYN SOUTH etc.

 

[68jk09]

In the above photos, the picture that is sixth from the top, old firehouse located at 2504 Webster Ave, later became the quarters for Fire Salvage 3. When Salvage 3 was closed down, as a buff, I caught a second alarm fire in that vacant firehouse. Someone also told me that there was another second alarm fire in that building shortly after.

Also the exposure 4 wall of the FH collapsed..... i think someone had pictures on here awhile back.

 

[mack]

In the above photos, the picture that is sixth from the top, old firehouse located at 2504 Webster Ave, later became the quarters for Fire Salvage 3. When Salvage 3 was closed down, as a buff, I caught a second alarm fire in that vacant firehouse. Someone also told me that there was another second alarm fire in that building shortly after.

Bill:  Engine 48 - 2504 Webster Avenue former firehouse collapse:
http://northeastfirephotos.smugmug.com/FDNY/Bronx-Collapse-of-Engine-48s/

 

[nfd2004]

In the above photos, the picture that is sixth from the top, old firehouse located at 2504 Webster Ave, later became the quarters for Fire Salvage 3. When Salvage 3 was closed down, as a buff, I caught a second alarm fire in that vacant firehouse. Someone also told me that there was another second alarm fire in that building shortly after.

Bill:  Engine 48 - 2504 Webster Avenue former firehouse collapse:
http://northeastfirephotos.smugmug.com/FDNY/Bronx-Collapse-of-Engine-48s/

  Thank you "mack" and Chief JK. That was the place. Now I do seem to remember seeing something posted or mentioned about that collapse. A sad ending to a building with so much history and stories within it.

 

[mack]

Engine 215  firehouse  88 India Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

    Engine 15 BFD organized 88 India Street                              1872
    Engine 15 BFD became Engine 15 FDNY                                1898
    Engine 15 became Engine 115                                              1899
    Engine 115 moved 104 Huron Street                                    1909
    Engine 115 new firehouse 88 India Street                              1910
    Engine 115 became Engine 215                                            1913
    Engine 215 disbanded                                                          1972

    Engine 215-2 organized 88 India Street at Engine 215            1917
    Engine 215-2 disbanded                                                      1918

Engine 15 BFD original firehouse 88 India Street:


Plans for new firehouse Engine 15 BFD 88 India Street:


Engine 215 88 India Street (firehouse built 1910):




88 India Street 1980s:


88 India Street former firehouse:



Engine 15 Brooklyn Fire Department form "Our Firemen - The Official History of the Brooklyn Fire Department"  1892:



Engine 215 LODD:

    FF George W. Strait, Engine 15 BFD (Engine 215) - detailsed to Ladder 6 (Ladder 106), Hersemann's Bakery fire, Graham Avenue and Powers Street, wall collapse, June 22, 1884

"The fire started when a hot brick from one of the ovens on the second floor of Herseman's Bakery dropped to the floor below. It landed in the stable, igniting some hay. The fire gained headway before it was noticed. Workers went into the stables to release the forty-four horses but were driven back by the flames. Thirty-three of the horses were released, eleven were killed. Acting Foreman Jonathan Tyack and Fireman Stephen Allen and Firemen George W. Haight were ordered to add another section of hose to the line operating in the rear of the bakery. The three men entered the alleyway between the fire building and the adjoining building with the extra hose. The four walls of the building swayed before the roof fell in, pushing the walls out and burying the helpless firemen. Acting Foreman Tyack was found under six feet of bricks with his skull crushed. Fireman Haight was found badly burned. Fireman Allen was injured but escaped with only a broken leg when he was thrown into a doorway and through the door of the next building. Acting Foreman Tyack and Fireman Haight both lived on Meserole Avenue in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. Acting Forman Tyack was forty-five years old, was married and the father of four children. Fireman Haight lost his wife several weeks earlier; they left three children orphaned. The fire from the time it was discovered until the building collapsed was less than fifteen minutes." - from "The Last Alarm", by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn

    Cypress Hills Cemetery:
   

   

   

    Assistant Chief report:
   


Engine 215  LODD:

FF Anton Jiranek, Engine 115, died from injuries received in a fall, January 7, 1911.  FF Jiranek was summoned to rescue a cat who climbed up a tree.  He was 25 years old and lived in Greenpoint on Java Street.




    Never forget.

   
88 India Street firehouse:
http://brooklynrelics.blogspot.com/2013/09/india-street-firehouse-88-india-street.html

Greenpoint history:

http://brooklyn.about.com/od/historicbrooklyn/a/A-Short-History-Of-Greenpoint-Brooklyn.htm

http://www.archive.org/stream/historicgreenpoi00felt#page/n67/mode/2up

 

[68jk09]

215 RIP if not disbanded in 1972 would be in the Greenpoint Av FH along  w/238/106......also BN*36 RIP

 

[mack]

Another Engine 115 (Engine 115)  LODD:

FF Anton Jiranek, Engine 115, died from injuries received in a fall, January 7, 1911.  FF Jiranek was summoned to rescue a cat who climbed up a tree.  He was 25 years old and lived in Greenpoint on Java Street.

 

[mack]

Engine 247/Thawing Unit 4  firehouse  - also Ambulance 2/Battalion 40          1336 60th Street, Borough Park, Brooklyn

    Engine 47 BFD organized 1336 60th Street w/Ladder 19 BFD                                1896
    Engine 47 BFD became Engine 47 FDNY                                                              1898
    Engine 47 became Combined Engine Company 47                                                1898
    CEC 47 became CEC 147                                                                                    1899
    CEC 147 became CEC 247                                                                                  1913
    CEC 247 became Engine 247                                                                              1914

    Ambulance 2 located 1336 60th Street at Engine 247                                      1963-1967

    Thawing Unit 4 located 1336 60th Street at Engine 247                  1976-1987, 1991-2003

    Battalion 40 located 1336 60th Street at Engine 247                                            2004

1336 60th Street:









Engine 247:


Engine 247/Battalion 40:



Engine 247:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iow4ztH5Lu8


Engine 247 100 years of service:  http://nyfd.com/history/engine_247_1.html


Borough Park:
http://www.brooklyn.com/map-9.html

http://forgotten-ny.com/2011/10/borough-park/

 

[mack]

On February 1, 1896, the Brooklyn Fire Department opened 2 new firehouses with similar design - Engine 43 in Bath Beach and Engine 47 in Bath Junction, as the neighborhoods were then called.  The New Utrecht Fire Department was replaced by new BFD companies.  These also included: Engine 41, Bay Ridge; Engine 42, Ft. Hamilton; and Engine 53, South Bensonhurst.  BFD companies would soon become FDNY units when Brooklyn became part of New York City in 1898.  BFD Engines 41, 42, 43, 47 and 53 became FDNY Engines 41, 42, 43, 47 and 53.  In 1899, they were renumbered FDNY Engines 141, 142, 143, 147 and 153.  In 1913, they were again renumbered Engines 241, 241, 243, 247 and 253.


Brooklyn Fire Department built similar design firehouses in 1896 for Engines 43 and 47:


BFD Engine 43 / FDNY Engine 243/Ladder 168/Battalion 42 firehouse 865 18th Avenue




BFD Engine 47 / FDNY Engine 247 firehouse 1336 60th Street