FDNY: Frequently Asked Questions

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Aug 7, 2012
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I visited the NYC Fire Museum last month, and I really enjoyed it.
One of the items on display was a "Bresnan Distributor".
How does this device work, and when is it normally used?
 
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Aug 7, 2012
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I have a question about standard bunker gear that FDNY firefighters use as compared with bunker gear used by members of other departments.
It seems that FDNY gear is black with lime & silver conspicuity stripes.
It seems that many other departments use brown gear.
Do any FDNY members wear brown bunker gear?
Is there any functional difference between brown and black gear?
 
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No difference, just a different dye used in the fabric. The Bresnan Distributor was used for basement fires. Don't believe it's been used in years.
 

811

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sandero said:
I visited the NYC Fire Museum last month, and I really enjoyed it.
One of the items on display was a "Bresnan Distributor".
How does this device work, and when is it normally used?

Bresnan distributor works on the same principle as a lawn sprinkler.  Orifices are aligned so together they force the head to revolve in the same direction (similiar to the ancient Hero's Aeolipile - look it up).  The typical 2 1/2" Bresnan had 9 orifices and its total output was equal to a 1.78" nozzle tip.  It's range was limited and was usually intended for use in cellar or other inaccessible fires.

FDNY also used some other larger distributors or nozzles for underpier access that had greater capacity and range.

Illustration is from 1961 edition of the  Fire Chief's Handbook.

bresnandistributor.png

0013distributorLR.png
 
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I remember seeing a brush truck with one of those on the tailboard. They used it as a sprinkler for putting out brush fires.
 
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FDNY150 said:
No difference, just a different dye used in the fabric. The Bresnan Distributor was used for basement fires. Don't believe it's been used in years.

I actually used the Bresnan once (so far) in my career, and it worked (great) as it was designed!!!
A great tool in the box,to get the job done when warranted!
 
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sandero said:
I have a question about standard bunker gear that FDNY firefighters use as compared with bunker gear used by members of other departments.
It seems that FDNY gear is black with lime & silver conspicuity stripes.
It seems that many other departments use brown gear.
Do any FDNY members wear brown bunker gear?
Is there any functional difference between brown and black gear?

FDNY EMS wears the brown gear with yellow striping and lettering.
 
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Mar 5, 2007
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The distributor has been used recently by FDNY in conjunction with ConEd, use at manholes to move the CO around to minimize explosive range, actually draws CO out of manhole into air to alleviate the possibility of CO explosion in another manhole or in a basement, usually place a shut off 1 length back and attach distributor an place in hole and let it do its thing.
 
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sandero said:
I have a question about standard bunker gear that FDNY firefighters use as compared with bunker gear used by members of other departments.
It seems that FDNY gear is black with lime & silver conspicuity stripes.
It seems that many other departments use brown gear.
Do any FDNY members wear brown bunker gear?
Is there any functional difference between brown and black gear?
Many fire departments across the U.S., such as the FDNY, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, and Baltimore use the black gear, as do hundreds of other smaller fire departments. As was said before, the tan gear is used by FDNY EMS. There is no real difference in the two types of gear(black and tan), other than the color. Pretty much every fire department in the U.S. use one color or the other. The style of reflective stripes(yellow, silver, yellow) on the gear is pretty much standard issue for most fire departments. Nowadays, it's rare to see new turnout gear with large single yellow reflective stripes.
 
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When my son was at Al-Asad in Iraq as a contract firefighter with WSI they had brown/tan turnout gear. They could putchase their own helmet though, hr brought a Cairns. GG :) :) ;D ;D :D :D
 
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Oct 31, 2012
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Hello all !

Sorry for my bad english, but I speak french...

First, thanks to the Nycfire.net team to approved my account.

I have a great interest for the FDNY, since one year, about, and I would like to ask some questions about this department.

I just spoke with a member by PM and it advice me to ask my questions on the forum. I've got some answers, but I ask, though, few answered questions, if someone would even more details.  If I do not have the answer to all, it is not a problem, just some of it would be very cool !!!

My questions focused on the "EMS" and the "Fire" divison.

In advance, I thank you very much, for your help.

1. I know that the "ems haz-tac battalion" has these vehicles : HT-1, HT-2, HTB, HTCU. Right ?
- Could you confirm me that the EMS Haz-Tac Battalion is : ems 849 haz tac battalion The FDNY has just one ?
- Could you tell me what is the HTCU ? Because I never heard of this. Could you tell me the purpose of this vehicle, and do you have any photos ? Maybe if I had the meanings of the letters, I will understand...
- Could you confirme me that the HT-1 and HT-2 are : http://www.10-75.net/apparatus/ny/nyc/fdny/haztac.htm Do you have just two ? It's a "haz-tac ambulances" support ?
- Could you confirm me that you have 35 or 36 haz-tac ambulances, and 10 rescue medics ambulances ? I ask this because an over person tell me that the FDNY has... 145 haz-tac ambulances, and this number seems me... exagered.

2. There are two model of "EMS Division" (here, Division 5 for exemple)
1. E168s FDNY EMS Operations Division 5 Trucks, Rossville, Staten Island, New York City (like the Haz-Mat Tech Unit)
2. FDNY EMS Division 5 Car (old) and EMS22s FDNY Chevy Impala EMS Division 2 Car, Seaview Hospital, Staten Island, New York City (new).

For the second, I guess that the old is not longer in service, and the new replace him.
But for the first vehicle, what is the difference between the other modele ? These vehicles are still in service ? What tools can be found inside this vehicle ?
In each division, we find theses 2 types of Division ("battalion" model and "HMTU" model), and I never learned the difference.

3. Could you tell me the purpose of this vehicle ? Manhattan, New York - USA I don't thing that's a EMS vehicle. That is the same of the HMTU ? (4 engines company, all squads company, rescue 5) ? Because all firehouses which quartered an HMTU are not this model of truck, they are an another model (like EMS Division, photo 1). Could you tell me where are quartered theses vehicles, and the usefulness, please ?

4. The know that the FDNY has no surgeon, but medical doctors. Someone has any photos of the medical doctor cars, in the HQ ?

5. I know that the "conveyor pod" is a 23-foot container used to store and transport two 20-foot electric-powered conveyor belts. But which situation is it use ? I do not see what can be an conveyor belt (in the utility for firefighters). Do you have any photo of this (not the pod, but the tool) ?

6. In 2010, the FDNY is launching the "Organ Preservation Unit", in Manhattan. To pick up organs in bereaved families. Is that this project is still valid, or he was disbanded ?

7. The FDNY has some ambulances for
- obese patient ? Is that ambulances already carrying adaptable stretchers ?
- n?o-natal (baby born) ?

If not, in each case, an special ambulance from the hospital will be sent ?

8. The 2 Highway Response Unit all still in service ? Some peoples tell me one is disbanded, others tell me two are in still in service.

9. I think that this truck is send in case of major-incident... http://www.fdnytrucks.com/images/specialunits/ems/FDNYEMS590.jpg He transport advanced medical post and other medical tool. We find just one in New York ?

10. Could you tell me how many Haz-Mat RTV vehicle in New York ? Like this : FDNY Haz-Mat Kubota RTV Utility Vehicle, City Hall Area, New York City

11. Is the Marine Companies has a chief vehicle like the "battalion chief", "EMS Supervisor", "haz-tac officer" ? If yes, how many "marine battalion" cars we find in New York ? I know we find a few "marine division" ford pick-up, and some "marine division" cushman moto.

12. I know there are two CTV in New York, but in videos, I always just see the 2nd in action. The CTV 1 (Ford truck) is still in service ?

13. About "reserve" engines and truck engines, could you confirme me that they are quartered in the few firehouses, next to other rigs ? This is crazy, after months of research, I thought I was "specialist" on the subject, and I did not even know that reserve engines were quartered in the firehouse ! I count 32 reserve engines/ladder companies, but I don't know if this number is right http://nycfire.net/fdny/apparatus/reserve When these reserve unit can put in-service ?

14. On this unit chart (http://www.ufoa.org/linkfiles/file00000255.pdf), you will see, in orange frame, the number of "decon engines", there are lot in the city. But after the "hat-mat tech unit",  SSL and CPC, I don't know what is the "decon engine"... These engines has a secon vehicle for the decon ? (like the HMTU, SSL, CPC) ? On YouTube, Google, Flickr, and other, I don't find any information about this... Same for the "ice & cold water rescue", framed light blue, but for this, I think they are not second vehicle, and the only caracteristic is the lifebuoy...

15. Do you have any photos of the "PPE Replacement Facility" quartered at SOC ?

16. Could you tell me how many investigations cars we find in the FDNY ? Like the 13 OFI of the Chicago Fire Department. I know just one "fire scene unit", but I think it should certainly be other vehicles investigations, when I see the number of resolved inquiries.

In advance, thanks for your help.

NB : again, sorry for my bad english. I try to speak as well as possible. I know I certainly write big mistakes...

Thanks a lot for your replies.
 
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13. About "reserve" engines and truck engines, could you confirme me that they are quartered in the few firehouses, next to other rigs ? This is crazy, after months of research, I thought I was "specialist" on the subject, and I did not even know that reserve engines were quartered in the firehouse ! I count 32 reserve engines/ladder companies, but I don't know if this number is right http://nycfire.net/fdny/apparatus/reserve When these reserve unit can put in-service ?


Reserves are in different fire houses usually behind the frontline unit or in lots next to the firehouses., and can be put into service like monday with the Hurricane usually with off duty members.



9. I think that this truck is send in case of major-incident... http://www.fdnytrucks.com/images/specialunits/ems/FDNYEMS590.jpg He transport advanced medical post and other medical tool. We find just one in New York ?

I'm sure someone will correct me but i think that is the weapon of mass destruction truck and carries antidotes.


4. The know that the FDNY has no surgeon, but medical doctors. Someone has any photos of the medical doctor cars, in the HQ ?


I may have one, I will look for it. They just usually use hand me downs like Car 32 is using a Ford Excursion.



14. On this unit chart (http://www.ufoa.org/linkfiles/file00000255.pdf), you will see, in orange frame, the number of "decon engines", there are lot in the city. But after the "hat-mat tech unit",  SSL and CPC, I don't know what is the "decon engine"... These engines has a secon vehicle for the decon ? (like the HMTU, SSL, CPC) ? On YouTube, Google, Flickr, and other, I don't find any information about this... Same for the "ice & cold water rescue", framed light blue, but for this, I think they are not second vehicle, and the only caracteristic is the lifebuoy...

Ice and cold water rescue trucks just carry extra equipment on the truck. Again I may not be %100 right.
 
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Oct 31, 2012
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@Anesti, thanks a lot for your replies. About "reserve" vehicles, excepted engines and trucks, we find another reserve vehicle in the firehouses (rescue, squad, ambulances at ems station ...) ? Or theses vehicles are just "spare", at SHOPS ? I refer specifically to the Rescue 6 which, apparently, is quartered at Ladder 20, but i'm not sure.
 
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Rescue 6 was not in Ladder 20 firehouse this summer. There were two spare rigs : Engine 503, Ladder 705.



gr3enfly, si jamais je parle aussi fran?ais, message priv?  ;D



 
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Rescue 6 or 7 maybe be at Squad 270. Again spares are kept in lots and one other building I forget where they are.
 
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