FDNY and NYC Firehouses and Fire Companies

[memory master]

As far back as I can remember, the apparatus was always quartered opposite of what the company designations were on the outside over the apparatus floor doors, i.e. 144 under 295's markings and vice-versa. (I wonder if the "Carvel" ice cream store is still on the corner of 149 and 14?

 

[1261Truckie]

I have always wondered about apparatus placement in quarters. For example, if you stand in the street and face the house:
Most of the houses in Brooklyn have the truck on the right side/engine on the left, while most of the Bronx houses seem to have the truck on the left and the engine on the right.......any reason?

 

[mack]

It is interesting that company designations above apparatus doors probably matched apparatus placement as designed when firehouses were originally placed in service.  But over many years with apparatus changes, unit relocations, building modifications and department reorganizations - company designations now randomly match initial designations above doors. 

Most FDNY firehouses are 50 to 100 years old, or older.  Many were designed for horse drawn apparatus and many had separate engine/truck quarters in the same firehouse.  Many firehouses saw second sections and TCUs and required creative apparatus placement.  Many firehouses have seen battalion chiefs, deputy chiefs, second pieces, spares and special units come and go.  Firehouses have been remodeled.  So it is understandable that apparatus placement changed from original design placement.

There is discretion but I have also wondered if there have been division or boro customs about engine/truck placement which influenced apparatus placement.  Does apparatus placement follow any department traditions or policies?  Or is it random?  Or is it just practical based on current apparatus size and space available on the apparatus floor? 

 

[raybrag]

I have always wondered about apparatus placement in quarters. For example, if you stand in the street and face the house:
Most of the houses in Brooklyn have the truck on the right side/engine on the left, while most of the Bronx houses seem to have the truck on the right and the engine on the left.......any reason?

Didn't you realize that they drive on the wrong side of the road in the Bronx . . . just like the Brits?  (alternative fact #463771)  :

 

[manhattan]

I've heard that the placement, at least in modern times, goes back to the days when all truck companies were tillers and needed the widest turn radius to leave and enter quarters to and from one-way streets.

 

[guitarman314]

I've heard that the placement, at least in modern times, goes back to the days when all truck companies were tillers and needed the widest turn radius to leave and enter quarters to and from one-way streets.

  Then explain why L152 had a super sharp turn out of their old home with E306? ???

 

[guitarman314]

  Engine side was on the side where the hose tower was located. That ended when new type hose was introduced and there was no need to wash, hang and dry hose in the tower.

 

[memory master]

  Engine side was on the side where the hose tower was located. That ended when new type hose was introduced and there was no need to wash, hang and dry hose in the tower.

Good point! I didn't think about that.

 

[68jk09]

As far back as I can remember, the apparatus was always quartered opposite of what the company designations were on the outside over the apparatus floor doors, i.e. 144 under 295's markings and vice-versa. (I wonder if the "Carvel" ice cream store is still on the corner of 149 and 14?

Carvel is still there.

 

[68jk09]

True as G Man said the ENG side back when was usually predicated on the location of the Hose Tower ( or wooden racks along the wall in some really old pre Hose Tower FHs.)....the last FDNY FHs w/Hose Towers were built in the '60s....the FHs built in the early '70s had electric hose dryers (similar to a large pizza oven w/multiple shelves)...in the mid '70s starting w/the "1 3/4 hose (brought in service for the rapid water scam) the composition of all hose sizes then changed & no longer required drying & could be packed back on the Rig wet eliminating towers & electric dryers....as far as the lettering over the doors it varied thru the years in many FHs  depending on the type Ladder Rig & the number of extra Units inside ...(the many late '30s one large door Walker House's like 303/126 had the ENG lettering over the LAD lettering so there was no particular "side"  https://www.google.com/search?q=engine+303+ladder+126&tbm=isch&imgil=pf97RpGQrPTi3M%253A%253BNRPbq04B_ntfwM%253Bhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.flickr.com%25252Fphotos%25252Fjag9889%25252F4951079911&source=iu&pf=m&fir=pf97RpGQrPTi3M%253A%252CNRPbq04B_ntfwM%252C_&usg=__0YvOyxhB_ekikWUyzaiZrdC-PFg%3D&biw=1024&bih=523&ved=0ahUKEwiq5_23vMHTAhVHMSYKHSL2C5QQyjcINA&ei=LTsAWeqcMMfimAGi7K-gCQ#imgrc=pf97RpGQrPTi3M: )  ..287 / 136 had lettering on opposite sides for years but have lettering in the correct sides due to a mid '90s rehab of the FH where the original Housewatch that was on the right hand side looking in was moved to mid apparatus floor on the wall as  looking in on left side & then the BN Rig was snaked into the spot on the right side where the HW had originally been ....prior to this the BN Rig was in front of the ENG ....to this day though after the mid '90s rehab at 287/136 even though the E&T  had swapped sides the E&T Offices above remain on opposite sides resulting in sliding the pole brings you on the opposite side of the respective Rig......when the Union Ave FH for BN*35 ENG*216 & LAD*108 was occupied  in Aug '71 the BN came out of a smaller door on the extreme left side facing the FH then originally facing the larger door 216 was in the middle & 108 against the wall on the right side as facing the FH...it was somewhat difficult to service equipment on 108 in the small space along the wall so the CPT's agreed to place 108 in the middle & 216 against the wall...we then removed the aluminum lettering from the brick face & placed them on metal sheets made from old Ladderpipe trays & reattached them to the proper sides    https://cisconefirephotos.smugmug.com/FDNY-Brooklyn/Engine-216-Ladder-108/  ....in answer to a previous question as to who makes the final decision as to what side a Unit is on i would have to say basically it is the Unit CPT...i don't know of any case where HQ fought a CPTs decision on placement.

 

[68jk09]

I've heard that the placement, at least in modern times, goes back to the days when all truck companies were tillers and needed the widest turn radius to leave and enter quarters to and from one-way streets.

  Then explain why L152 had a super sharp turn out of their old home with E306? ???

I was not in this neighborhood when 152 was still w/306 prior to '60 but i would think that  back then the LAD was on the left  facing the FH under the ENG lettering & the ENG was on the right  facing the FH so the LAD could go both ways to either 40 or 41 Ave w/their Tiller Rig.....a few years ago when 167 was temporarily quartered there while the qtrs were being rehabbed their Rear Mount could only go left out of qtrs to 40 Ave.

 

[nfd2004]

Like so many others, I have been following this thread since it's very beginning. It is a complete history of every firehouse in New York City.

I really had no idea of the history of these fire companies and the design of their firehouses.

The truth is, after being an FDNY Buff for about 50 years, starting from my first visit to Rescue 2 in Brooklyn back in the spring of 1967, I thought I pretty much had a good idea of the FDNYs operation and a lot of the history behind it. But after all that time, I'm still learning about the FDNY. The place I always considered to be the Best Fire Dept in the World. 

 

[johnd248]

When E 248 moved into their "new" house in 1972, there was a separate door for B 41 and one big door for the rig(s).  The building was even lettered for a ladder company.  There have been two times when other companies were in that house temporarily: L 113 and E 310 when their houses were being renovated.  During those times B 41 had to use the small door.  Most of the time they are located right next to the engine so only the large door is used.

Being a single engine house for so long, the members enjoyed the brothers from L 113 and E 310 while they "visited".

 

[mack]

Today - what are FDNY policies and practices about logistics inside firehouses:  location of apparatus; use of rooms and space; housewatch modifications; memorials;  storage location of department appliances and equipment; workout rooms; paint?

What about outside: signs; company logos; building markings; storage sheds; athletic facilities; lighting; decorations; gardens? 

Who decides and approves?  What decisions are made by the companies and what must be approved at "higher levels"?

 

[memory master]

From what I recall, the "Rules & Regulations" stated that no modifications to quarters were permitted unless authorized by...." (I can't remember)  Maybe the good Chief can jog my memory. I don't even know if the "book" is called "R&R" any longer.

 

[68jk09]

There are Regulations about everything but not all are enforced (at least not until something happens)....i will say there certainly is more scrutiny concerning what is placed outside FHs & on Rigs today.

 

[mack]

Engine 295/Ladder 144 neighborhood changes:

Cross Island Parkway 1940s:

   

   


Cross Island Parkway current:

   


149th St NE corner 1932 before firehouse move:

   


149 St NE corner today:

   

 

[mack]

Engine 295/Ladder 144:

1930s:

   

After 1939 relocation:

   

Current:

   

   

 

[mack]

As far back as I can remember, the apparatus was always quartered opposite of what the company designations were on the outside over the apparatus floor doors, i.e. 144 under 295's markings and vice-versa. (I wonder if the "Carvel" ice cream store is still on the corner of 149 and 14?

Carvel is still there.

Carvel before remodeling:

   

Current carvel:

   

 

[mack]

Bridge Chemical 64 Queens - located at Engine 295-Ladder 144:

   

Organized June 1, 1932 as Bridge Chemical Engine Company 4.  Unit used a shop-converted ALF pumper.  Equipped with 275 gallon water tank, hose, extinguishers and foam for fires on bridges.  Originally staffed as a separate company, unit became Bridge Chemical Unit 64 staffed by Engine 295 members during World War II.  Bridge units were disbanded in 1954 when engine company pumpers were equipped with booster tanks.