A little FDNY history, Interchange. Around 1970 John T. O'Hagan wore two hats, Chief of Department and Fire Commissioner. The duties of COD were performed by the Chief of Fire Control. I believe in 1970 this chief was either Beekman or Cruthers Sr. O'Hagan was friends with Bob Farrell. O'Hagan was a BC in the 9th Battalion when Farrell was a FF in L4. Farrell made a great Class 1 rescue in a 5th at a 42nd street subway fire. Farrell was one of the most decorated members I worked with, chest full of Class 1's,2's and 3's, I believe only Tom Neary wore more. Farrell had been a frogman during the Korean War, today's SEALS. In 1970 Farrell was a Lt. in 31 truck, later Captain of 31 during my time there. Around 70 Farrell invited O'Hagan to dinner with 82/31. O'Hagan accepted. The night of the dinner the Bronx was jumping. 31 was in and out, caught a few jobs and O'Hagan, with no dinner, left around 2200. The next day he said that something must be done for busy companies so that they can at least have somewhat of a meal time, Interchange was born. I can't rember the exact numbers when you interchanged then, something like 15 runs before 2400, 20 runs after with 4 hours of work. As they say no good deed goes unpunished, so with interchange. With the heavy workload the unions were successful in a number 2nd sections put in service. The WRI points (how much work a company did each month) was used by the unions for second section demands. This brought mandatory interchange for the busy companies. Most had one company every 3rd night or so, 82 had 2 with every other night, 31 had one.
Interchange was a pain in the ass for both companies, the busy and the slow. In 82 the community boards demanded that the quarters of 295 and 297 not be left vacant while the companies traveled to the Bronx. So we at 82 would leave for Queens around 1830, took about a half hour or so depaending on traffic to get to 295 and 297. By the time 295 and 297 got to 82's qtrs it would be close to 2000 hours, a long time to leave 82 vacant, a lot of work was missed and people suffered. But the WRI's were lower. In the morning we would have to wait for 295/297 to return before we could start out for the Bronx. Some mornings if they were at a job at change of tour they wouldn't get back to Queens until 1000 hours. The guys didn't appreciate us getting back to qtrs at 1030 hours, OT or not.
The guys in the companies doing the interchange, many, not all, but many; hated it. You couldn't blame them as most of these guys had come from busy companies. There was friction between the guys at times, but for the most part we got along. There was one oldtimer on the back step of 295 who used to give me a tickle at times like when the were leaving for the Bronx "you take it easy tonight Cap, we'll handle it." One day when they came back from 82 they had an unusually quiet night, 4 or 5 runs before midnight and no work/runs after. That morning when the came back the oldtime gave it to me "anytime you guys need a rest we'll take care of it and if we need one we'll go up to the bronx." I just said "sounds good." The very tour next they went up there and came back the next morning they took up from a job. They had hose draped over the back step. The oldtime got off the rig with plaster all over his helmat and coat, was soaked. They had 30 or so runs with2 or 3 good jobs. The old timer looked at me and said "don't say anything, they made up for the other night." So it went.
Interchange was part of the war years. When the war ended so did interchange. Good times, bad times.
Interchange was a pain in the ass for both companies, the busy and the slow. In 82 the community boards demanded that the quarters of 295 and 297 not be left vacant while the companies traveled to the Bronx. So we at 82 would leave for Queens around 1830, took about a half hour or so depaending on traffic to get to 295 and 297. By the time 295 and 297 got to 82's qtrs it would be close to 2000 hours, a long time to leave 82 vacant, a lot of work was missed and people suffered. But the WRI's were lower. In the morning we would have to wait for 295/297 to return before we could start out for the Bronx. Some mornings if they were at a job at change of tour they wouldn't get back to Queens until 1000 hours. The guys didn't appreciate us getting back to qtrs at 1030 hours, OT or not.
The guys in the companies doing the interchange, many, not all, but many; hated it. You couldn't blame them as most of these guys had come from busy companies. There was friction between the guys at times, but for the most part we got along. There was one oldtimer on the back step of 295 who used to give me a tickle at times like when the were leaving for the Bronx "you take it easy tonight Cap, we'll handle it." One day when they came back from 82 they had an unusually quiet night, 4 or 5 runs before midnight and no work/runs after. That morning when the came back the oldtime gave it to me "anytime you guys need a rest we'll take care of it and if we need one we'll go up to the bronx." I just said "sounds good." The very tour next they went up there and came back the next morning they took up from a job. They had hose draped over the back step. The oldtime got off the rig with plaster all over his helmat and coat, was soaked. They had 30 or so runs with2 or 3 good jobs. The old timer looked at me and said "don't say anything, they made up for the other night." So it went.
Interchange was part of the war years. When the war ended so did interchange. Good times, bad times.
