FDNY and NYC Firehouses and Fire Companies

[mack]

Squad 7 1961 International van:


Squad 7 probably used a converted 1940 Mack hose wagon when first organized at Engine 212 in 1959.

 

[mack]

SQ*7 was organized in the qtrs. of ENG*212 then as the "War Years" began they  were moved to ENG*237 (whose area was called Williamsburg back then not Bushwick as today)....then after much Fire Duty in Williamsburg SQ*7 became  ENG*232 in Brownsville on Watkins St then about a year later when the "Tinhouse" was opened they moved there & remained there for several years of heavy Fire duty ...then in 1988 they were unceremoniously disbanded....232 RIP ....BMA ON THE WAY....ALL THE WAY.

E 232/TCU 732/L 176  "Tin House" firehouse  266 Rockaway Avenue, Brownsville, Brooklyn
    Current quarters to EMS Bn 44 

    E 232 reorganized at 107 Watkins St at E 231/L 103/Bn 44                                                    1966 
    E 232 moved to 266 Rockaway Ave Tin House w/TCU 732                                                      1971
    E 232 disbanded                                                                                                                1988

    TCU 732 (Tactical Control Unit - ladder company) organized 582 Knickerbocker Ave at E 277    1970
    TCU 732 moved to 266 Rockaway Ave Tin House w/E 232                                                      1971
    TCU 732 disbanded                                                                                                            1972 

    L 176 organized 266 Rockaway Ave Tin House w/E 232                                                          1972
    L 176 moved to 25 Rockaway Ave w/E 233                                                                            1987


266 Rockaway Avenue "Tin House":         




Engine 232 1965 Mack 1000 GPM pumper:



Tactical Control Unit 732 1969 ALF 100 ft rearmount:



Ladder 176 1981 Seagrave 100 ft rearmount:




266 Rockaway Avenue vacant - post Engine 232/Ladder 176:




266 Rockaway Avenue - current home to EMS Bn 44:
current

Picture of E 231/E 232/L 103/Bn 44 supporting troops in front of Watkins St:

 

[mack]

"Tin Houses" were officially called "Pre-Engineered Firehouses":



From WNYF, 2nd Issue, 1971.


Original concept envisioned moving these temporary firehouses around the city as needs changed.  However, both temporary firehouses are still located in original locations in Brooklyn and the Bronx, 44 years later.  Both have been used by FDNY EMS after fire companies were disbanded or relocated.  Maybe similar to temporary classrooms built at schools which remain indefinitely.

 

[68jk09]

The "Tinhouse's" were built with no upstairs & no need for poles.....but in the BKLYN one the FFs built a small room upstairs.

 

[mack]

Engine 232/TCU 732 quarters at 266 Rockaway Avenue, the "Tinhouse", was located between very busy "War Years" companies in 1971:




Engine 233    243 Hull Street
Engine 231/Ladder 120    107 Watkins Street
Engine 227/Ladder 123    423 Ralph Avenue
Engine 290/Ladder 103    480 Sheffield Avenue
Engine 283    214 Bristol Street
Ladder 175    79 New Jersey Avenue

 

[mack]

Anyone know location of TCU 732 in above picture.  Note partial address on awning to left of truck.  Also pharmacy - Koenig's Pharmacy.

 

[guitarman314]

Anyone know location of TCU 732 in above picture.  Note partial address on awning to left of truck.  Also pharmacy - Koenig's Pharmacy.

  I believe that's on Myrtle Ave. outside E286/L135 firehouse where it was stored during off-hours in Glendale, Queens

 

[68jk09]

Yes G Man is correct it is on Myrtle Av  near 135's Qtrs....outrageous Rig Maroon in color until repainted later on...I got detailed there  to drive it mid-tour one night ....4 speed stick shift & a Jake Brake ...anybody who stepped out in front of it I would think  would have had a hearing defect....very loud exhaust just braking w/o the Federal Q Siren w/the handbrake.

 

[mack]

TCU 732 - 1969 ALF 100 ft. rearmount - maroon color:




Location today:


TCU 732 was organized to operate out of Engine 277 in 1970.  It relocated to Engine 232 when the Tinhouse opened in 1971.

TCU 732 stored off-duty at Engine 286/Ladder 135 at 66-44Myrtle Avenue, Glendale, Queens:

 

[mack]

The Tactical Control Units were organized 1969 and 1970 to operate in high incident fire neighborhoods.  When the alarm rates spiraled out of control as the "War Years" developed in the mid to late 1960s, FDNY formed double companies - engine or ladder companies - in many busy firehouses.  In 1969, the 2 section concept changed and TCUs were established which operated from 1500 hours to about 0030 hours.  This was the daily period of the highest alarm rate - late afternoon through midnight.  Engine companies were numbers in a 500 number, truck companies in a 700 number.  TCUs were located in outlaying firehouses and members reported to the stored location and drove to their operational firehouse for duty, then drove back to the outlaying firehouse to store the apparatus and go off duty. 

TCU members were volunteers, worked reduced hours and were compensated for the non-standard hours. The TCUs were also staffed with additional manpower.  When they went into service, they rotated runs with assigned engine or ladder companies when boxes were received.

TCU:          Operated at:      Years in-service:

TCU 512      Engine 45            1969-1971
TCU 513      Engine 94            1969-1971
TCU 531      Engine 225          1969-1971
TCU 712      Engine 82            1969-1971
                  Engine 85            1971-1972    Bronx "Tinhouse"
TCU 731      Ladder 102          1969-1971
TCU 732      Engine 277          1970-1971 
                  Engine 232          1971-1972    Brooklyn "Tinhouse"

Not sure which firehouses TCUs operated from (rigs stored off-duty hours) except TCU 732, as noted above (Engine 286 firehouse in Glendale, Queens). 

 

[mack]

TCU 712 operated at Engine 82/Engine 85/Ladder 31/Battalion 27 firehouse 1213 Intervale Avenue in the South Bronx:

 

[mack]

TCU 731 operated at Ladder 102/Engine 209/Battalion 34 firehouse, 850 Bedford Avenue:








TCU 731 (former Mack 144 foot high-rise ladder):


Located in front of off-duty firehouse?

 

[CVILLE7111]

I believe they were quartered (when not on duty) with (then) Engine 288.

 

[3511]

TCU 512 stored at E90

TCU 513 at E96

TCU 712 at E43. ( where it would later permanently locate as L59.)

 

[fdhistorian]

TCU 512 stored at E90
TCU 513 at E96
TCU 712 at E43. ( where it would later permanently locate as L59.)

TCU 512 Org 925 E Tremont Ave, Bronx 11/15/1969 at Eng 45 stored at Eng 90
TCU 512 Disbanded                         11/27/1971

TCU 513 Org 1226 Seneca Ave, Bronx         11/15/1969 at Eng 94 stored at Eng 96
TCU 513 Disbanded                         11/27/1971

TCU 531 Org 657 Liberty Ave, Brooklyn 11/29/1969 at Eng 225 stored at Eng 285
TCU 531 Rel 799 Lincoln Ave, Brooklyn 2/21/1970
TCU 531 Disbanded                         2/19/1972

TCU 712 Org 1213-1215 Intervale Ave, Bronx 11/15/1969 at Eng 82 stored at Eng 43
TCU 712 Rel 1264 Boston Rd, Bronx                   7/8/1971 with Eng 85
TCU 712 Disbanded to organize Ladder 59 11/24/1972

TCU 731 Org 850 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn         11/29/1969 at Lad 102 stored at Eng 288
TCU 731 Disbanded                                 11/27/1971

TCU 732 Org 582 Knickerbocker Ave, Brooklyn 3/21/1970 at Eng 277 stored at Eng 286
TCU 732 Rel 266 Rockaway Ave, Brooklyn         9/24/1971 with Eng 232
TCU 732 Disbanded                                 8/5/1972

Info from this site

 

[mack]

Adaptive Response SOP outline originally posted by site administrator in earlier thread:

 

[mack]

Summary of FDNY strategy 1970 (WNYF):

   

   


To follow in the 1970s: DRBs; rapid water; Red Cap Program; salvage companies; roof ropes; city runs out of money; FDNY cutbacks and layoff.

 

[lad72der]

Yes G Man is correct it is on Myrtle Av  near 135's Qtrs....outrageous Rig Maroon in color until repainted later on...I got detailed there  to drive it mid-tour one night ....4 speed stick shift & a Jake Brake ...anybody who stepped out in front of it I would think  would have had a hearing defect....very loud exhaust just braking w/o the Federal Q Siren w/the handbrake.

Chief I'm guessing it probably had a Detroit diesel motor, open exhaust  and when the Jake was on would have given it that Heavy truck sound more like a dump truck . I doubt there were any other trucks that sounded like it . They don't make trucks like that anymore

 

[mack]

Metropolitan Fire Department Headquarters - Firemen's Hall - 155 Mercer Street  Lower Manhattan

    - firehouse built 1856 was first headquarters of the new paid Metropolitan Fire Department (later named FDNY).


1856:


1868:




    Note: - Harpers Weekly 1865 sheet celebrating new paid fire department - Metropolitan Fire Department
              - 155 Mercer Street firehouse upper left in picture.
              - Statue at top of firehouse is Harry Howard, Chief Engineer of the Volunteer Department,





1881:






Note:  FDNY Headquarters moved 1887 to 157 East 67th Street which was also quarters for Engine 39 and Ladder 16.


155 Mercer Street quarters for Engine 13, Ladder 20, Battalion 3:



155 Mercer Street Firemen's Hall firehouse was quarters for:

    Ladder 20 organized 155 Mercer Street                                            1889
    Ladder 20 moved 163 Mercer Street                                                1893
    Ladder 20 moved 120 Mercer Street                                                1894
    Ladder 20 new firehouse 251 Lafayette Street w/Engine 13              1974

    Ladder 20-2 organized 155 Mercer Street                                        1889     
    Ladder 20-2 disbanded                                                                  1895
    Ladder 20-2 reorganized 155 Mercer Street                                      1895
    Ladder 20-2 disbanded                                                                  1939

    Engine 13 located at 155 Mercer Street                                        1948-1974

    Battalion 3 located at 155 Mercer Street 1894-1903, 1904, 1905-1913, 1922-1956

    Battalion 5 located 155 Mercer Street 1903-1904, 1959-1974





155 Mercer Street former FDNY Headquarters and former firehouse - current use:

 

[mack]

Firemen's Hall  155 Mercer Street    Metropolitan Fire Department (MFD)/Fire Department New York (FDNY) Headquarters



Communications center at 155 Mercer Street headquarters:


Statue at top of Firemen's Hall of former volunteer Fire Chief Harry Howard dedicated to all firefighters:



Early paid MFD (FDNY) history:
"Under the Metropolitan Fire Department, the New York State governor had control over the Board of Fire Commissioners in the cities of Brooklyn and New York. The fire departments in those two cities operated separately under the guise of the MFD and were not incorporated into one department until the Greater City of New York was consolidated in 1898.

  After John Decker retired, Elisha Kingsland was elected Chief Engineer. In 1867, he was replaced by General Shaler, who converted the MFD into a well-organized department operating with military precision. He required prospective firemen to have a public school education and pass a physical exam. Officers and engineers had to take classes training them in their respective duties. By 1883, this type of instruction included all firemen, who were trained at the School of Instruction.

  The paid department introduced horse-drawn steam engines... Engine houses had to be renovated to fit horses and larger apparatus. The first professional unit, Engine Co. 1, went into service July 31, 1865. Sections of Manhattan, north of 87th street, were protected by volunteers until 1867. Volunteer companies were gradually phased out in the more rural areas of Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx until the 1930s...

  In May of 1870, the letters "MFD" on apparatus, quarters, or insignia, were replaced by "FDNY"."
    -FDNY website


Chief Engineer Elisha Kingsland - elected first Chief Engineer (Fire Chief) of new paid NYC fire department - MFD:


    -Elisha Kingsland was a member of volunteer Hose Company No. 32 and later, volunteer Engine Company No. 26, which he became foreman (captain). He was the first chief of NYC's paid department with headquarters at 155 Mercer Street in Lower Manhattan,