FDNY's 59 Battalion

[nfd2004]

I would like to pass on to you a little history on FDNY's 59th Battalion which has been passed on to us by Retired FDNY Dispatcher Herb Eysser - UAF Staff.

The 59 Battalion was OPENED and CLOSED Twice within a TWENTY-YEAR PERIOD.
The first 59 Battalion was organized in the quarters of Engine 275 in South Jamaica Queens on June 17, 1970, only to be closed on July 4, 1975.

The 59 Battalion was organized again in the quarters of Engine 319 in Middle Village Queens on July 1, 1984, only to be CLOSED again on November 29, 1989.

Queens has the same number of Battalions TODAY as they did in "1930" - 95 Years Ago

 

[68jk09]

Thank You as usual to my longtime Friend Herb Eysser for providing this & many other FDNY History Stats as well as current info & also Thank You to my other Friend Willy D. for continuing to post this info as we receive it.

 

[68jk09]

Some further observations of mine on BN*59.... Originally when BN*59 was placed at ENG*275 they were supposed to lighten up the workload of BN*50 & BN*54.....during the "supposed" fiscal crisis in 1975 the 59 was closed....to fill in somewhat BN*51 was moved from ENG*294 to ENG*308 ...this added another BN closer to the 50 / 54 area but also created additional Boxes for BN*46 & BN*39....also BN*37 that was in ENG*222 had 2 Sections & BN*37-2 became BN*28 & was moved to ENG*271 as Bushwick was starting to really burn....when BN*59 was re organized at ENG*319 (sort of in between part of the 46 & 28 Response areas ) the idea was to lighten the load of BN*46 (who that year was # 1 in Runs in NYC ) & BN*28......the reason it did not really accomplish that was that the 59 only really picked up the slower area's of both BN*46 & BN*28.
J.K.

 

[kidfrmqns]

Some further observations of mine on BN*59.... Originally when BN*59 was placed at ENG*275 they were supposed to lighten up the workload of BN*50 & BN*54.....during the "supposed" fiscal crisis in 1975 the 59 was closed....to fill in somewhat BN*51 was moved from ENG*294 to ENG*308 ...this added another BN closer to the 50 / 54 area but also created additional Boxes for BN*46 & BN*39....also BN*37 that was in ENG*222 had 2 Sections & BN*37-2 became BN*28 & was moved to ENG*271 as Bushwick was starting to really burn....when BN*59 was re organized at ENG*319 (sort of in between part of the 46 & 28 Response areas ) the idea was to lighten the load of BN*46 & BN*28......the reason it did not really accomplish that was that the 59 only really picked up the slower area's of both BN*46 & BN*28.
J.K.

Chief, from what I remember growing up in the neighborhood is that the 59 was in 319 but the 46 stayed at 287/136. Do you think it would have lightened the load more if the 46 had moved to either 289/138 or 307/154?

 

[68jk09]

^^^ Not really ....moving farther North (Jackson Heights) or East (Corona) the workload would sstill have been heavy......what did happen at one point was BN*52 was given some of BN* 46's response area in the eastern part of Corona along Northern Blvd closer to Shea Stadium.