I do not remember if I posted this FDNY history on this site before, if so; sorry for the repeat, last time. A tribute to a great firefighter and friend, Pete Valenzano, B56 retired, now deceased. In 1985 fairly new on the staff as a DAC I was assigned to the Brooklyn Boro Command as one of the two Deputy Boro Commanders. My car # was 7B. As deputy boro commanders you are assigned projects, boro responsibilities etc. One of the duties of Car7B was the L. I. Pipeline Coordinator.
Summer day a second alarm comes in for the pipeline in S. I. As coordinator I respond. Pipeline work crew knocked off a pipeline valve while doing a repair. There was a 40 foot geyser of gasoline erupting from the now missing valve. Wind was blowing the spray over a large area of homes, stores, cars etc. Later the pipeline said the loss was 21,000 gallons of gasoline, I believe that was a low estimate. A large wooden plate was placed by the pipeline crew over the geyser, leaving a river of gasoline flowing down the blvd. into the Arthur Kill by the storm drains. We started to put foam on the river and did keep the flow from igniting. John O'Rourke (RIP) was Chief of Department at the scene. At one point I grabbed a newly reporting in Lt. from an engine company and told him that he was to insure the foam supply as units reported in, then report to me. I never saw him again. Incident went to 4 alarms. Everyone went home, no homes lost, great job by the brothers.
The next day I was in headquarters talking to AC Harris (RIP) (Asst. Ch. of Ops) and Homer Bishop (RIP) (Ch. of Ops). Told them about the foam problem and then did something stupid, said we needed a Department Foam Coordinator. The next day I was the Department Foam Coordinator. I knew as much about foam as the next guy, put the nozzle on the line, dip the wand into the big can and hope foam comes out. Asked around and was told that there was a BC in the 56th Battalion who loved foam, his nickname was bubbles; Pete Valenzano. I had seen him at a few jobs when I was a covering DC in the BX but other than that didn't know him, but he was always great at the fire I had with him. I called him up and asked him if he would take a detail to Training to put together foam procedures etc. He said sure. I went to O'Rourke and asked him for Pete. John said I could have him for two weeks, Pete was there for 6 years until he retired. He was such an asset to Training in many fields that they fought to keep him there.
As was said to me Pete put the FDNY's foam program "on the map." He designated and trained the foam coordinator battalions/chiefs, additional foam units were established, theory for foam attack, color coded the cans for different type foam (which went industry wide after), foam procedures eg. TL foam delivery, 10-86 signal was born. Other cities sent reps to Training to learn Pete's system.
Pete retired around 1991 or 92. Pete spent most of his years, FF, Lt, Captain and BC in the Bx, through the war years. As with so many of these great men Pete developed cancer shortly after retiring, lived only a painful year or so, then passed away. The next large scale FDNY foam incident, think of Pete Valenzano, bubbles. May he continue to Rest in Peace. FDNY history.
Summer day a second alarm comes in for the pipeline in S. I. As coordinator I respond. Pipeline work crew knocked off a pipeline valve while doing a repair. There was a 40 foot geyser of gasoline erupting from the now missing valve. Wind was blowing the spray over a large area of homes, stores, cars etc. Later the pipeline said the loss was 21,000 gallons of gasoline, I believe that was a low estimate. A large wooden plate was placed by the pipeline crew over the geyser, leaving a river of gasoline flowing down the blvd. into the Arthur Kill by the storm drains. We started to put foam on the river and did keep the flow from igniting. John O'Rourke (RIP) was Chief of Department at the scene. At one point I grabbed a newly reporting in Lt. from an engine company and told him that he was to insure the foam supply as units reported in, then report to me. I never saw him again. Incident went to 4 alarms. Everyone went home, no homes lost, great job by the brothers.
The next day I was in headquarters talking to AC Harris (RIP) (Asst. Ch. of Ops) and Homer Bishop (RIP) (Ch. of Ops). Told them about the foam problem and then did something stupid, said we needed a Department Foam Coordinator. The next day I was the Department Foam Coordinator. I knew as much about foam as the next guy, put the nozzle on the line, dip the wand into the big can and hope foam comes out. Asked around and was told that there was a BC in the 56th Battalion who loved foam, his nickname was bubbles; Pete Valenzano. I had seen him at a few jobs when I was a covering DC in the BX but other than that didn't know him, but he was always great at the fire I had with him. I called him up and asked him if he would take a detail to Training to put together foam procedures etc. He said sure. I went to O'Rourke and asked him for Pete. John said I could have him for two weeks, Pete was there for 6 years until he retired. He was such an asset to Training in many fields that they fought to keep him there.
As was said to me Pete put the FDNY's foam program "on the map." He designated and trained the foam coordinator battalions/chiefs, additional foam units were established, theory for foam attack, color coded the cans for different type foam (which went industry wide after), foam procedures eg. TL foam delivery, 10-86 signal was born. Other cities sent reps to Training to learn Pete's system.
Pete retired around 1991 or 92. Pete spent most of his years, FF, Lt, Captain and BC in the Bx, through the war years. As with so many of these great men Pete developed cancer shortly after retiring, lived only a painful year or so, then passed away. The next large scale FDNY foam incident, think of Pete Valenzano, bubbles. May he continue to Rest in Peace. FDNY history.
