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- Apr 23, 2018
- Messages
- 1,093
LADDER 5; P 13
SAVING PRIVATE PAUL
As an LLC one of the nice perks was I never got detailed, but if I work overtime that was a different story. When I worked overtime most of the details were to drive other ladder trucks for the tour, so far in Manhattan I have been behind the wheel of L 8 and L 10 both rearmount rigs and L 21, L 9, L 12, L 18, L 15 which are tower ladders. L 12 was the largest rig I drove, it was a dual axle one hundred foot Seagrave TL through the streets of Chelsea from their quarters on W 19th Street. There are a few differences between the two types of ladder trucks, the major difference is apparatus positioning.
Other ladder trucks I drove previously were L 38, L 112, L 174, L 103 and L 113 in Brooklyn, all rearmounts. Once in a while our tiller would have to go out of service for a period of time and replace it with a rearmount. It was interesting to watch a LCC of a tiller that had no experience driving these larger straight chassis rigs who did not appreciate their overall length. For instance making a tight turn it saved time to actually go wide, ‘back up’ square the turn and proceed instead of trying to fudge through the turn, ultimately having to back out to make the adjustment.
There were also all kinds of bosses I drove, most sat stone faced focused on the response with their ear plugged into the apparatus radio handset. Using the siren, I hardly touched it, however some officers like Lt. Mike would flip on the ‘wail’ mode and just leave the monotonous tone drone on and on, even if it was early morning with no traffic. Then some officers hardly ‘chirped’ the siren in traffic while others blasted the air horn like Holy Hell was about to erupt. An officer I drove in Bushwick preferred just using the “hi-lo”. According to our regulations, while responding, the officer was not to speak or interfere with the chauffeur unless it was about apparatus speed, questioning the route or additional information he was receiving.
[Manhattan had many other type emergencies, including Subway fires. This one I was driving L 5 when we discovered heavy volumes of smoke emanating from subway grating at Houston and Varick. An electrical vault was burning. This became a 2nd alarm]
I was fortunate to drive some really wonderful bosses, and now Lt. JJ has been recently promoted, his vacant spot has been announced on the department orders along with all the other vacancies in other companies throughout the city. For over a month I have been driving covering Lieutenants, some are interested in putting in for the spot while others are checking out other spots available. However, the spot will soon be filled by one of the most amusing and entertaining Lieutenants I have ever met and drove. The new Boss comes from Brooklyn’s busy East New York L 103 truck and will be arriving tonight for his very first tour.
It is about 5:00 PM as members begin to report for duty. On Sixth Avenue the apparatus door is open and it is not uncommon to have anywhere from four to eight guys milling about watching the traffic and pedestrians passing by. But tonight there is a gleeful anticipation waiting to check out the new L 5 Lieutenant. Suddenly a car screeches to a halt into one of the front parking spots of the firehouse, the car does not look familiar and a couple of members are about ready to tell the driver that’s not a parking spot when the door flings open and out pops ‘Elvis’ in a full white rhinestone jumpsuit regalia complete with buck teeth. The impersonator introduces himself to the group; “Hi, I’m Vinny Giammona, L 5 Lieutenant, new guy”. The front of the firehouse erupts with uproarious laughter as Vinny shakes hands and then trots upstairs to change into his work duty uniform. This would not be the only time the new Boss created such an exhibition.
[With all the construction developing in Manhattan, it wasn't uncommon to get a crane that flipped over while lifting heavy loads]
That's how I met my new boss, and I would drive him and Mike for the next couple of years. Vinny could make anyone laugh, he was three years younger than I with a glowing personality, unbridled energy and a profound charisma. He had the knack for making outrageous good natured funny remarks that made people chuckle.
Vinny was a fearless and gutsy firefighter when it was time to get down and dirty plus he was strong and extremely physically fit, too. When he had the time after completing his office paperwork Vinny spent time in the gym, in addition he was an avid runner training for the upcoming NYC twenty six mile Marathon. When new probies came to L 5 we would take the rig and crew out to one of the residential hi-rise buildings on a Saturday morning where Vinny would wage a friendly challenge to the probies. The new fresh troopers straight from the training school and in peak physical shape were ‘invited’ to keep pace with him as he ascended the interior staircase with full turnout gear including breathing apparatus saying he’ll meet them on the tenth floor. He’d smoke them all, everytime.
It did not take long, all the members loved Vinny and his enthusiastic passion and began to refer to him as Lt. Fun. One time, Vinny wanted to host “Cowboy Theme Night” in the firehouse, he bought everyone a cowboy hat and loaded the kitchen up with numerous bails of hay strewn all over the kitchen floor.
When we worked during a comfortable night we would all jump aboard the apparatus after dinner, making the first stop at Starbucks where we all partook in a double espresso. From there we’d cruise the neighborhood checking out any one of the numerous hot spots and Nightclubs that was ubiquitous to our covering area, pulling the rig to the side of the curb and having fun celebrity spotting. It never failed, Vinny was usually the first to notice the celebrities getting out of their limos.
[The photographer was standing right next to me when he took this snap of Debbie Harry and E 24 Fireman Kevin Anders in front of the legendary nightclub "Don Hills" on Spring Street]
Today I have just completed the first half of my twenty four and I’m looking forward to the day tour ahead of me. My usual routine on twenty-fours like this I hop out of bed at 0600, jump into the shower after laying out my clothes for quick donning and do what I call “the mad one minute shower” hitting all the major points. The hardest clothing to put on when you are wet is your socks, so my feet, ankle and legs I dry off first. Then I can kind of go into a more relaxed mode as I dry the rest of myself off knowing I could be dressed and ready to go if the tones go off. I think I have been caught in the shower once or twice, and thank the Lord, never caught on the porcelain bowl throughout my career.
Today is a nice bright pleasant Sunday morning with the sun shining onto the apparatus floor just before roll call. I have a fresh cup of coffee in my hand and I can’t imagine anything better at this moment. But, boy am I wrong.
Six year veteran Firefighter Paul Keaning has not reported for duty. The usual course of action when this happens, a member gets on the phone and tries to make contact with the missing firefighter and to make sure everything is alright. And if not, another firefighter steps up to ride until the delayed firefighter arrives or works the tour and is repaid at a later date.
But today that is not the case, you see, Paul has recently moved into a small apartment in downtown Manhattan, he is a single young man and like most young men he enjoys the nightlife, but unfortunately has trouble responding to his alarm clock. Grievously this is not the first occasion, or second, or even the third that Paul has had to call the firehouse because he was running late imposing on one of the members to stand by until he arrives. His habitual tardiness and irresponsibility has started to wear thin and is sadly becoming a nuisance. Vinny has warned him many times and even cautioned Paul that he was on “thin ice”.
Today the summer sunshine has melted that last trickle of ice and I have never seen Vinny so mad and aggravated as he is right now a few minutes before roll call and Paul is missing in action. I think I could fry an egg off of Vinny’s forehead.
With repeated attempts, Paul is not picking up his phone and this is not good, Vinny assembles the day crew members together and we hop on the rig for a road trip to extract Paul from his apartment on Liberty Street only a few doors east of L 10’s quarters. I flip on the overhead lights, turn out of quarters heading west on Houston Street, then a left on West Street for a ‘quick’ ride toward Liberty Street.
At Liberty Street I hang a left passing the South WTC Tower #2. Since it is only mere minutes after the 0900 roll call as I approach L 10’s quarters their members are on the apparatus apron and notice us as we “respond” by. The surrounding area is very quiet with no bystanders, traffic or commuters, just us. The “Tenhouse” officers and members have this puzzled look on their faces as we stop just a few doors past their quarters where our boy Paul rents a third floor apartment.
I see the Brothers from the Tenhouse scratching their heads trying to figure what is going on at this point, they must be assuming they missed a first due assignment. One of our guys keeps pressing the intercom to Paul's apartment, but there is no answer. I thought Vinny was mad as hell before, but I can tell Vinny is steaming now and losing patience.
[This was a double fatality. The driver executed, lost control of his vehicle and mowed down a bystander standing at the corner of Spring and Sixth Ave. I was driving B 2 and requested a second CFRD Engine (E 55) to respond to assist E 24 who were dealing with an injured pedestrain that had his leg severed.]
L 5 tillerman Greg Saucedo happens to know what windows are to Paul's apartment, Vinny has me raise the aerial to one of the three. Greg hustles up the ladder and it happens to be Paul's bedroom window. Greg can see through the window and spots Paul enjoying his cozy restful slumber. With a few raps on the window, Greg steps back when an aroused Paul lifts up the wooden sash, with blinking eyes he sticks his head out from the window flaunting an awkward smile. In the meantime the entire Liberty Street firehouse members are now watching the spectacle unfold with bewilderment.
Vinny is below the aerial and looking upward scornfully orders Paul to get his ass down onto the rig pronto before he “has to…” something or other. Incredibly Paul blurts to Vinny; “Do I have time to Shave?”
It takes all my might grabbing a hold of the back straps of Vinny's suspenders and rein him in from charging up the aerial ladder. Alas, Paul was never late again and he did have to endure some late watches for a while though.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed! KMG-365
SAVING PRIVATE PAUL
As an LLC one of the nice perks was I never got detailed, but if I work overtime that was a different story. When I worked overtime most of the details were to drive other ladder trucks for the tour, so far in Manhattan I have been behind the wheel of L 8 and L 10 both rearmount rigs and L 21, L 9, L 12, L 18, L 15 which are tower ladders. L 12 was the largest rig I drove, it was a dual axle one hundred foot Seagrave TL through the streets of Chelsea from their quarters on W 19th Street. There are a few differences between the two types of ladder trucks, the major difference is apparatus positioning.
Other ladder trucks I drove previously were L 38, L 112, L 174, L 103 and L 113 in Brooklyn, all rearmounts. Once in a while our tiller would have to go out of service for a period of time and replace it with a rearmount. It was interesting to watch a LCC of a tiller that had no experience driving these larger straight chassis rigs who did not appreciate their overall length. For instance making a tight turn it saved time to actually go wide, ‘back up’ square the turn and proceed instead of trying to fudge through the turn, ultimately having to back out to make the adjustment.
There were also all kinds of bosses I drove, most sat stone faced focused on the response with their ear plugged into the apparatus radio handset. Using the siren, I hardly touched it, however some officers like Lt. Mike would flip on the ‘wail’ mode and just leave the monotonous tone drone on and on, even if it was early morning with no traffic. Then some officers hardly ‘chirped’ the siren in traffic while others blasted the air horn like Holy Hell was about to erupt. An officer I drove in Bushwick preferred just using the “hi-lo”. According to our regulations, while responding, the officer was not to speak or interfere with the chauffeur unless it was about apparatus speed, questioning the route or additional information he was receiving.
[Manhattan had many other type emergencies, including Subway fires. This one I was driving L 5 when we discovered heavy volumes of smoke emanating from subway grating at Houston and Varick. An electrical vault was burning. This became a 2nd alarm]
I was fortunate to drive some really wonderful bosses, and now Lt. JJ has been recently promoted, his vacant spot has been announced on the department orders along with all the other vacancies in other companies throughout the city. For over a month I have been driving covering Lieutenants, some are interested in putting in for the spot while others are checking out other spots available. However, the spot will soon be filled by one of the most amusing and entertaining Lieutenants I have ever met and drove. The new Boss comes from Brooklyn’s busy East New York L 103 truck and will be arriving tonight for his very first tour.
It is about 5:00 PM as members begin to report for duty. On Sixth Avenue the apparatus door is open and it is not uncommon to have anywhere from four to eight guys milling about watching the traffic and pedestrians passing by. But tonight there is a gleeful anticipation waiting to check out the new L 5 Lieutenant. Suddenly a car screeches to a halt into one of the front parking spots of the firehouse, the car does not look familiar and a couple of members are about ready to tell the driver that’s not a parking spot when the door flings open and out pops ‘Elvis’ in a full white rhinestone jumpsuit regalia complete with buck teeth. The impersonator introduces himself to the group; “Hi, I’m Vinny Giammona, L 5 Lieutenant, new guy”. The front of the firehouse erupts with uproarious laughter as Vinny shakes hands and then trots upstairs to change into his work duty uniform. This would not be the only time the new Boss created such an exhibition.
[With all the construction developing in Manhattan, it wasn't uncommon to get a crane that flipped over while lifting heavy loads]
That's how I met my new boss, and I would drive him and Mike for the next couple of years. Vinny could make anyone laugh, he was three years younger than I with a glowing personality, unbridled energy and a profound charisma. He had the knack for making outrageous good natured funny remarks that made people chuckle.
Vinny was a fearless and gutsy firefighter when it was time to get down and dirty plus he was strong and extremely physically fit, too. When he had the time after completing his office paperwork Vinny spent time in the gym, in addition he was an avid runner training for the upcoming NYC twenty six mile Marathon. When new probies came to L 5 we would take the rig and crew out to one of the residential hi-rise buildings on a Saturday morning where Vinny would wage a friendly challenge to the probies. The new fresh troopers straight from the training school and in peak physical shape were ‘invited’ to keep pace with him as he ascended the interior staircase with full turnout gear including breathing apparatus saying he’ll meet them on the tenth floor. He’d smoke them all, everytime.
It did not take long, all the members loved Vinny and his enthusiastic passion and began to refer to him as Lt. Fun. One time, Vinny wanted to host “Cowboy Theme Night” in the firehouse, he bought everyone a cowboy hat and loaded the kitchen up with numerous bails of hay strewn all over the kitchen floor.
When we worked during a comfortable night we would all jump aboard the apparatus after dinner, making the first stop at Starbucks where we all partook in a double espresso. From there we’d cruise the neighborhood checking out any one of the numerous hot spots and Nightclubs that was ubiquitous to our covering area, pulling the rig to the side of the curb and having fun celebrity spotting. It never failed, Vinny was usually the first to notice the celebrities getting out of their limos.
[The photographer was standing right next to me when he took this snap of Debbie Harry and E 24 Fireman Kevin Anders in front of the legendary nightclub "Don Hills" on Spring Street]
Today I have just completed the first half of my twenty four and I’m looking forward to the day tour ahead of me. My usual routine on twenty-fours like this I hop out of bed at 0600, jump into the shower after laying out my clothes for quick donning and do what I call “the mad one minute shower” hitting all the major points. The hardest clothing to put on when you are wet is your socks, so my feet, ankle and legs I dry off first. Then I can kind of go into a more relaxed mode as I dry the rest of myself off knowing I could be dressed and ready to go if the tones go off. I think I have been caught in the shower once or twice, and thank the Lord, never caught on the porcelain bowl throughout my career.
Today is a nice bright pleasant Sunday morning with the sun shining onto the apparatus floor just before roll call. I have a fresh cup of coffee in my hand and I can’t imagine anything better at this moment. But, boy am I wrong.
Six year veteran Firefighter Paul Keaning has not reported for duty. The usual course of action when this happens, a member gets on the phone and tries to make contact with the missing firefighter and to make sure everything is alright. And if not, another firefighter steps up to ride until the delayed firefighter arrives or works the tour and is repaid at a later date.
But today that is not the case, you see, Paul has recently moved into a small apartment in downtown Manhattan, he is a single young man and like most young men he enjoys the nightlife, but unfortunately has trouble responding to his alarm clock. Grievously this is not the first occasion, or second, or even the third that Paul has had to call the firehouse because he was running late imposing on one of the members to stand by until he arrives. His habitual tardiness and irresponsibility has started to wear thin and is sadly becoming a nuisance. Vinny has warned him many times and even cautioned Paul that he was on “thin ice”.
Today the summer sunshine has melted that last trickle of ice and I have never seen Vinny so mad and aggravated as he is right now a few minutes before roll call and Paul is missing in action. I think I could fry an egg off of Vinny’s forehead.
With repeated attempts, Paul is not picking up his phone and this is not good, Vinny assembles the day crew members together and we hop on the rig for a road trip to extract Paul from his apartment on Liberty Street only a few doors east of L 10’s quarters. I flip on the overhead lights, turn out of quarters heading west on Houston Street, then a left on West Street for a ‘quick’ ride toward Liberty Street.
At Liberty Street I hang a left passing the South WTC Tower #2. Since it is only mere minutes after the 0900 roll call as I approach L 10’s quarters their members are on the apparatus apron and notice us as we “respond” by. The surrounding area is very quiet with no bystanders, traffic or commuters, just us. The “Tenhouse” officers and members have this puzzled look on their faces as we stop just a few doors past their quarters where our boy Paul rents a third floor apartment.
I see the Brothers from the Tenhouse scratching their heads trying to figure what is going on at this point, they must be assuming they missed a first due assignment. One of our guys keeps pressing the intercom to Paul's apartment, but there is no answer. I thought Vinny was mad as hell before, but I can tell Vinny is steaming now and losing patience.
[This was a double fatality. The driver executed, lost control of his vehicle and mowed down a bystander standing at the corner of Spring and Sixth Ave. I was driving B 2 and requested a second CFRD Engine (E 55) to respond to assist E 24 who were dealing with an injured pedestrain that had his leg severed.]
L 5 tillerman Greg Saucedo happens to know what windows are to Paul's apartment, Vinny has me raise the aerial to one of the three. Greg hustles up the ladder and it happens to be Paul's bedroom window. Greg can see through the window and spots Paul enjoying his cozy restful slumber. With a few raps on the window, Greg steps back when an aroused Paul lifts up the wooden sash, with blinking eyes he sticks his head out from the window flaunting an awkward smile. In the meantime the entire Liberty Street firehouse members are now watching the spectacle unfold with bewilderment.
Vinny is below the aerial and looking upward scornfully orders Paul to get his ass down onto the rig pronto before he “has to…” something or other. Incredibly Paul blurts to Vinny; “Do I have time to Shave?”
It takes all my might grabbing a hold of the back straps of Vinny's suspenders and rein him in from charging up the aerial ladder. Alas, Paul was never late again and he did have to endure some late watches for a while though.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed! KMG-365
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