My younger Buff years
- Thread starter nfd2004
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
- Messages
- 28,266
Bill....I can definitely relate to getting in to jobs first due. Also spent a lot of time in fire buildings as well as on the roofs. The one thing you did not do was leave the company you were riding with and go to another job you heard on you radio. That was a no no as far as I'm concerned.
Yeah Mike, you can relate to what I'm talking about. And your right about not leaving the company that you are riding with. I got to tell you, my very first night with Rescue 2 and the Great Late Lt Hamilton, we caught a second alarm in one of those Brooklyn 3 story row frames. I was about 18 years old and Lt Hamilton told me to follow him. We went up the interior stairway in exp 2 which was attached. One guy was carrying the saw. We got onto the roof of the fire building and Lt Hamilton told me to hold onto the guys coat while he was sawing the roof. He also had me hold a light for him. They let me wear FDNY gear and Nobody had air packs on. The smoke was brutal. Every once in awhile a breeze would blow the smoke and I could see a bucket of a tower ladder. At that time it was probadly one of FDNYs very first Tower Ladders. I can't tell you how I wanted to go for that bucket, get down, and get fresh air. When the fire was knocked down, I got a few strange looks from one of the chiefs. Next thing I know, the chief is calling Lt Hamilton a side. I can guess the rest.
Mikeindabronx web site (www.fdnysbravest.com) as most of us already know has some Great Photos, including roof shots and shots in the public hallways. I can relate to those photos from my buffing days. I saw what he photographed. I'm just really glad he was around with a camera and got the "Official Word" to take those historic pictures. I'm sure glad he has saved in photos a very busy historic time for the FDNY.
Mikeindabronx web site (www.fdnysbravest.com) as most of us already know has some Great Photos, including roof shots and shots in the public hallways. I can relate to those photos from my buffing days. I saw what he photographed. I'm just really glad he was around with a camera and got the "Official Word" to take those historic pictures. I'm sure glad he has saved in photos a very busy historic time for the FDNY.
B
Bigandy
Guest
Just wondering 'mikeindabronx', did you need special permission to take your shots, or were you just buffing and got as close as possible?
Cause your shots, are epic.
Cause your shots, are epic.
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
- Messages
- 28,266
Yes I had permission from HQ to ride with 69/28 & BN-16 (Harlem Hilton). At that time 69/28,80/23 & 37/40 were in the 16th. The 16th was part of Div-5. which was located in the quarters of 80/23.
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2008
- Messages
- 193
I have said it before...I would give anything to have been on the job back then.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2007
- Messages
- 1,446
Had a story to share with "youse guys".
Sometime late in 1969 (I think) there was a job with multiple fatalities at Brooklyn Box 681 (again I think it was 681, I know it was in that area). It was on a bitter cold night (Maybe Chief JK would remember this one). As I remember, the initial alarm came in around midnight.
L-132, normally 4th alarm truck, was special called as were several other trucks because both 1st due & 2nd due trucks went to the hospital as a result of their efforts trying to rescue the victims. Both of those companies really tried.
Anyway, as the operation wore on, everyone at the scene was trying hard to stay warm with little or no success. This was way before transit authority buses were called to the scene and for some reason the Salvation Army van did not respond. Sometime around 5 AM the chief in charge released E-235 to return to their quarters. They took up and left.
About a half hour later, just as the first light of dawn was appearing, some of us in the street saw a engine approaching the scene (no lights or siren). The chief jokingly asked his aide "Did we special call anyone?" and the aide said "No".
With that 235 pulled up in front of the building with hot coffee and pastries that they had purchased from a local bakery. They had gone back to their house, brewed several pots of coffee, found the bakery getting ready to open and then returned to the scene with goodies for the troops. They would not accept any donations, all this was out of their pockets.
Needless to say, anytime 235 needed a hand with anything at all, they got it. That's what brotherhood is about.
Sometime late in 1969 (I think) there was a job with multiple fatalities at Brooklyn Box 681 (again I think it was 681, I know it was in that area). It was on a bitter cold night (Maybe Chief JK would remember this one). As I remember, the initial alarm came in around midnight.
L-132, normally 4th alarm truck, was special called as were several other trucks because both 1st due & 2nd due trucks went to the hospital as a result of their efforts trying to rescue the victims. Both of those companies really tried.
Anyway, as the operation wore on, everyone at the scene was trying hard to stay warm with little or no success. This was way before transit authority buses were called to the scene and for some reason the Salvation Army van did not respond. Sometime around 5 AM the chief in charge released E-235 to return to their quarters. They took up and left.
About a half hour later, just as the first light of dawn was appearing, some of us in the street saw a engine approaching the scene (no lights or siren). The chief jokingly asked his aide "Did we special call anyone?" and the aide said "No".
With that 235 pulled up in front of the building with hot coffee and pastries that they had purchased from a local bakery. They had gone back to their house, brewed several pots of coffee, found the bakery getting ready to open and then returned to the scene with goodies for the troops. They would not accept any donations, all this was out of their pockets.
Needless to say, anytime 235 needed a hand with anything at all, they got it. That's what brotherhood is about.
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
- Messages
- 28,266
Great story, thanks for sharing it.
Yes Jimmy (1261 Truckie), that's what Brotherhood is all about. The members really took care of each other. There was No Other Group of people that was a "Tighter Group" than the members of the FDNY during those very busy War Years. And as busy as they were, they actually had pity for firefighters that worked in slower depts.
That was one of the Greatest things about being on the job then. I could see that from my outside view looking in. The term Brotherhood, I guess got its start with those Great Firefighters. In any way, shape, or form, they really were "The Greatest Generation of Firefighters". Every one of them, "A Role Model to todays, and Future Firefighters".
That was one of the Greatest things about being on the job then. I could see that from my outside view looking in. The term Brotherhood, I guess got its start with those Great Firefighters. In any way, shape, or form, they really were "The Greatest Generation of Firefighters". Every one of them, "A Role Model to todays, and Future Firefighters".
I was recently advised about more Great War Year Photos. I greatly appreciate that, so that we all can view them. Some in particularly that I remember. The picture of the Brooklyn Tin House. My buddy and I spent one night riding with Eng 232, and Lad 176. A Great group of guys. The picture of Ladder 40 with "Life begins at 40" written on the front. (Remember that Mike ! ). The Red/White/Blue rigs painted for the Bi-Centennial (1976) celebration. It also happened to be one of the Busiest Years for fires in the FDNY History. And there may even be a few faces that some of us might recognize.
I'm just glad there were people out there that were willing to photograph and preserve this time in history. Guys like "Doyleimages", and "Mikeindabronx" (www.fdnysbravest.com). Your Work is Greatly Appreciated. And for those that fought the fires during this very busy time, YOU REALLY ARE, "The GREATEST GENERATION of FIREFIGHTERS". You did one hell of a job under some of the Worst conditions that ever existed.
Go to http://doyleimages.smugmug.com/FDNY/Misc-FDNY/11857090_MdgEJ#838534458_MKje5
I'm just glad there were people out there that were willing to photograph and preserve this time in history. Guys like "Doyleimages", and "Mikeindabronx" (www.fdnysbravest.com). Your Work is Greatly Appreciated. And for those that fought the fires during this very busy time, YOU REALLY ARE, "The GREATEST GENERATION of FIREFIGHTERS". You did one hell of a job under some of the Worst conditions that ever existed.
Go to http://doyleimages.smugmug.com/FDNY/Misc-FDNY/11857090_MdgEJ#838534458_MKje5
- Joined
- May 6, 2010
- Messages
- 16,200
Excellent Photos in reply # 749 above by doyleimages.....i would like to comment on a few.....#11 job on Queens Blvd & 71 Rd. ENG*305 s '68 Mack w/Rescue type front & crew cab seating..several of these around then.....#16 FF Glen Harris R*2.....#17 R*2s '76 Mack door handpainted by Jon Thomas RIP......#29 LAD*119 Sutphen TL w/pumps (that were never used except to augment an Eng supplied feed line , LAD*14 had one also....after awhile LAD*14 got a Mack & 119 had both Sutphen s in qtrs one as regular rig & 1 as a spare only for their use......# 31 R*2 Lt. J. Vigiano..FF s Lee Ielpi..Glen Harris ..Rich Evers....# s 35 & 36 TL*1 w/ original '65 Mack T.L..... # 38 119 s Sutphen again......# 40 LAD*108 s '74 Seagrave a victim of the "Diesel Fuel Demons" who torched bldgs in Williamsburg in the mid to late 70s this was a large vacant factory on Union Av & Lynch St. that took off unexpectedly.......# 41 another shot of 108 s rig......# 45 R*2 Jon Thomas RIP & Jack Kleehaas w/torch......# 59 Multiple in the Gasolene Tank Farms in Greenpoint around '79 white coat is Francis Cruthers (Frank s Father) who was Chief Of Dept at the time old Foam Cannon at his feet....lots of foam was used ,Foam unit deckpipe as well as several foam handlines & a very graphic example of why you approach burning tankers from the sides when the end of 1 blew out ..fittings, its meter etc flying like large shrapnel........# 86 R*2 s '76 Mack.....# 97 disbanded LAD*171 that had been quartered w/ENG*329......# 121 R*2 FF Larry Weston..Bob Athanas Disp at the time now Senior Man R*3....FF Pete Bondy....& w/camera a good friend Artie O'Leary career FF ...NY Fire Patrol....Hartford Conn, & then Boston Mass. for many years until his untimely death at age 57 RIP Artie.......# 138 ENG*234 transp w/rig ..done a lot before todays EMS.....# 142..LAD*173 s '76 Bicentenial paint job on their '68 American LaFrance......# 146 108 before burning up at another job....# 155 a sad picture of the TIN HOUSE after it was padlocked ...PD & Marshalls cars posted outside..note the TIN HOUSE PLAZA St scene mentioned in the TIN HOUSE thread ......#157 Pat Brown R*2 RIP 9-11 doing CPR.....#158 119s Sutphen again....#161 good shot of "piggybacked portables".....# 187 shot of older LAD*40 w/plywood cover over cab of a MACK Tiller...# 198 R*2 FFs Rich Evers ..Al Washington..Jack Kleehaas..Al Stienhardt....# 202 disbanded ENG*212...Real FDNY History.
fdce54 said:
Frank, "you got one hellava Eye there". It sure looks like Donovan's to me. If I was a betting man, I'd put my money on you.
And I would really like to thank Chief "68jk09" for taking the time to describe many of those other photos. I consider us to be pretty lucky to have people like Chief "68jk09", and a few others like "69mets", "Turk182" and "******" (Capt of E 82 during the War Years) who have spent their time on some of the busiest FDNY Companies, and are willing to take the time to contrubute to this thread. "You were there". Great job, and THANK YOU.
A typical South Bronx job during the War Years. Looks like they'll put "Two and Two" to work on this one. Just a vacant building.
http://fdnysbravest.com/fp267.htm
Thanks to "mikeindabronx" for this photo.
http://fdnysbravest.com/fp267.htm
Thanks to "mikeindabronx" for this photo.
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
- Messages
- 28,266
68jk09 said:
I didn't realize that Bob had been a Disp. I've known him since he was with E-42 (Yellow). Stopped by R-3 last week and he was working,hadn't seen him in over a year. http://fdnysbravest.com/fp85.htm
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2009
- Messages
- 28,266
nfd2004 said:
Gotta love the old 10-30's.
Gotta love the old 10-30's.
[/quote]
Mike, maybe you or a few others might remember this. Way back then, a working fire was referred to as a "Signal 30". That was before the use of 10 codes. A "Signal 18" would be using 1/1. Later the 10 was added. Also the 10-75 did NOT exist. That came about during the War Years to request a Third Due Engine. It was during a lot of changes taking place for the FDNY. The DRB (Discretionary Response Box) became a norm, where the chief did Not have to respond. Adaptive Responses went into effect, elimnating the previous normal response of 3/2. TCUs (Tactical Control Units) were manned during the busiest time of day for fires. And pull boxes were being replaced with the newer ERS (Emergency Reporting Boxes) where it was hoped the caller would talk to the Fire Dispatcher, cutting down on the numerous false alarms from pull boxes. ERS, "No Contact", sent those busy Engine Companies to just as many false alarms, if not more than the pull boxes.
During the mid 70s, the numbers for fires and false alarms were "Staggerring".
[/quote]
Mike, maybe you or a few others might remember this. Way back then, a working fire was referred to as a "Signal 30". That was before the use of 10 codes. A "Signal 18" would be using 1/1. Later the 10 was added. Also the 10-75 did NOT exist. That came about during the War Years to request a Third Due Engine. It was during a lot of changes taking place for the FDNY. The DRB (Discretionary Response Box) became a norm, where the chief did Not have to respond. Adaptive Responses went into effect, elimnating the previous normal response of 3/2. TCUs (Tactical Control Units) were manned during the busiest time of day for fires. And pull boxes were being replaced with the newer ERS (Emergency Reporting Boxes) where it was hoped the caller would talk to the Fire Dispatcher, cutting down on the numerous false alarms from pull boxes. ERS, "No Contact", sent those busy Engine Companies to just as many false alarms, if not more than the pull boxes.
During the mid 70s, the numbers for fires and false alarms were "Staggerring".