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- Jun 27, 2007
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Would not allow my dog in those areas, let alone a human!
My younger Buff years
- Thread starter nfd2004
- Start date
East New York, Brownsville, Jamaica, Harlem, Lower East Side - all neighborhoods being destroyed.
Bed Sty, Williamsburg, etc.
Mermaid Avenue, Coney Island:
Vacant building, vacant building, vacant building....
Also, ADVs (Abandoned Derelict Vehicles), garbage, trash.....
Bed Sty, Williamsburg, etc.
Mermaid Avenue, Coney Island:
Vacant building, vacant building, vacant building....
Also, ADVs (Abandoned Derelict Vehicles), garbage, trash.....
NYC high pressure hydrant systems: http://www.firehydrant.org/pictures/nyc2.html
NYC had a few high pressure hydrant systems which were developed after several cities had experienced serious fires, to include the great Baltimore fire of 1904. FDNY had sent companies to Baltimore. The high pressure systems in NYC were installed to protect high value districts in Manhattan and the hotel and amusement park area of Coney Island. The systems were still operational into the War Years. The dispatch would provide the signal for the system to be turned on and would announce to responding companies that he high pressure system was in operation. Brooklyn dispatchers would announce Coney Island boxes and then inform responding units that the high pressure system was turned on for use. High pressure hydrants were much bigger than normal hydrants and had 4 outlets.
NYC had a few high pressure hydrant systems which were developed after several cities had experienced serious fires, to include the great Baltimore fire of 1904. FDNY had sent companies to Baltimore. The high pressure systems in NYC were installed to protect high value districts in Manhattan and the hotel and amusement park area of Coney Island. The systems were still operational into the War Years. The dispatch would provide the signal for the system to be turned on and would announce to responding companies that he high pressure system was in operation. Brooklyn dispatchers would announce Coney Island boxes and then inform responding units that the high pressure system was turned on for use. High pressure hydrants were much bigger than normal hydrants and had 4 outlets.
For the Christmas Season during the FDNY War Years, there really wasn't too much to celebrate about. The blocks of burned out buildings that once had been occupied were all empty. No more lite Christmas trees in the windows. No more Christmas decorations. And no more stores decorated for the busy holiday season.
What was decorated though were some of the rigs in these areas. Some had Christmas wreaths hanging in front. Some even had colorful lights along the front of the cab. One rig in the South Bronx had a big Christmas candle on its roof. I just don't remember what Engine company that was. I wish I had taken pictures. The members apparently took pride in decorating their rig. It was the first place I had ever seen fire trucks decorated for Christmas.
I couldn't wait for the next year to come around. Because Norwich (CT) Engine 2 was going to be the very first rig in Connecticut (as far as I knew), to be decorated for Christmas. So that's what we did. We never got any permission, "we just did it". The year after, the other rigs began to show their holiday spirit too.
But it wasn't just about decorating the rig, that a group of buff/firefighters learned from these FDNY War Years Firefighters. But we learned a few other simple tricks.
Like taking a piece of truck tire tube to hold a light onto our helmets so we could see better. We learned that carrying a K12 saw up a ladder using a home made sling was a lot easier than trying to hold onto a ladder with one hand and carrying that saw in the other. We learned that using the very heavy hurst tool we could lighten the load by using two firefighters holding each end of a pike pole and supporting that tool. We learned that it's good to break some windows at a fire because that fire could actually be put out a lot quicker.
So from Christmas lights to helmet lights, the firefighters/buffs that were there, learned from the Best.
What was decorated though were some of the rigs in these areas. Some had Christmas wreaths hanging in front. Some even had colorful lights along the front of the cab. One rig in the South Bronx had a big Christmas candle on its roof. I just don't remember what Engine company that was. I wish I had taken pictures. The members apparently took pride in decorating their rig. It was the first place I had ever seen fire trucks decorated for Christmas.
I couldn't wait for the next year to come around. Because Norwich (CT) Engine 2 was going to be the very first rig in Connecticut (as far as I knew), to be decorated for Christmas. So that's what we did. We never got any permission, "we just did it". The year after, the other rigs began to show their holiday spirit too.
But it wasn't just about decorating the rig, that a group of buff/firefighters learned from these FDNY War Years Firefighters. But we learned a few other simple tricks.
Like taking a piece of truck tire tube to hold a light onto our helmets so we could see better. We learned that carrying a K12 saw up a ladder using a home made sling was a lot easier than trying to hold onto a ladder with one hand and carrying that saw in the other. We learned that using the very heavy hurst tool we could lighten the load by using two firefighters holding each end of a pike pole and supporting that tool. We learned that it's good to break some windows at a fire because that fire could actually be put out a lot quicker.
So from Christmas lights to helmet lights, the firefighters/buffs that were there, learned from the Best.
Every Christmas time in 82 engine we would have one of the guys dress like santa, buy couple hundred Christmas canes and ride around the district giving the candy to the local kids. My last time, 1975, we came back to qtrs. with 70% of the canes which we had no kids to give them out to, all burned out blocks. A very few of the companies when relocated would remove the decorations from the relocated house tree, when they knew they had time. Take the tree outside, set it on fire, then bring it back into qtrs. and redecorate it.
Arson defined the "war years". Landlords, gangs, kids for profit, revenge, fun. Tenements, apartments, homes, garages, businesses, cars, boats, boardwalks, brush, garbage - anything that could burn was burned. It was normal to drive down a quiet block at night, get back to quarters, and immediately get a voice alarm for a building fully involved on that same block. Fire after fire was "suspicious". There were not enough fire marshals and it was difficult for them to do their job. The Red Cap fire program was an initiative that seemed to work well in neighborhoods where they operated.
******* said:
Thanks Chief *******. And after Christmas came the Long, Cold Winter. With no RAC Units and no relief companies. Just wet gear, wet clothes, and take in another run. Maybe another fire. No occupied stores, no neighbors coming out with a pot of hot coffee like they would do in some places. There were no cell phones to call home and let the Mrs know you're okay. And if you could find a corner pay phone, they usually were too destroyed to work. It was a World of its own. Seperated from what most of us know as a civilized place. And I remember what one of my buff buddies told me when we left. He said; "When we left it was like they opened the gates and let us out".
Thanks to Chief JK and Mack for the story on the Red Caps. They had a dramatic effect on the War Years. But even with that as the fires slowed down the 80s were still very busy by any standards. And in order to call the Fire Marshalls to an incident, as I was recently reminded by Mack, there were certain criteria that were necessary to request a Red Cap Fire Marshall. Things like several points of origin, or flammable liquids or containers found in the area.
There are many members on this site that were a part of it. They worked it, they saw it, they buffed it. I don't see how it could ever happen again.
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2012
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again...the "History" section of this site is my favorite. Such good stuff. Keep on posting everyone...
The "War Years" began sometime around 1964 or 65, peaked 1975 or 76. The Red Cap program began in 1977. This was the classic "closing the barn door after the horse got out." What happened was that the SBX was gone and the work was moving up to the NBX. The powers to be finally decided to do something about it before it (blocks burning down) reached Riverdale, and that was the only reason. In my 6 years in the 6th Div., 70-76 I can't remember ever seeing a marshal at a job other than a fatal fire.
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For years prior to mid '77 there were only 2 Marshal cars available each night.. Car 50 for BKLYN..QNS & SI responding out of LAD*132....Car 51 for MAN & BX.....almost any time BKLYN said on the radio "BKLYN to Car 50" 2 or 3 times he would then sign off w/"no answer"....we all used to laugh.
Chief - I found WNYF 4th issue - "...and have the fire marshal respond!" article which defined "suspicious" and "incendiary" fires at that time.
Suspicious - indications that fire had been set and all accidental causes eliminated: a threat made before the fire; a set of similar fires; stock or belongings moved before the fire; building unlocked; or any circumstance which can't be explained
Incendiary -evidence of arson: fire setting device found; 2 or more separate fires burning at same time; eyewitness; confession; combustible substance placed at point of origin - to be reported by officer in charge of fire
Firefighters advised to look for:
- on arrival: suspicious people and vehicles leaving vicinity; rapid extension of fire on arrival; explosions; odors; OOS hydrants; people arguing
- during operations: signs of burglary; rapid extension of fire; OOS sprinklers; odors; incendiary devices
Article focused on incendiary commercial fires and homicides - protection of evidence
2855 suspicious and incendiary fires were reported in 1972.
Fire marshals investigated over 9000 fires, accidents, equipment thefts and certain rule violations in 1972.
Suspicious - indications that fire had been set and all accidental causes eliminated: a threat made before the fire; a set of similar fires; stock or belongings moved before the fire; building unlocked; or any circumstance which can't be explained
Incendiary -evidence of arson: fire setting device found; 2 or more separate fires burning at same time; eyewitness; confession; combustible substance placed at point of origin - to be reported by officer in charge of fire
Firefighters advised to look for:
- on arrival: suspicious people and vehicles leaving vicinity; rapid extension of fire on arrival; explosions; odors; OOS hydrants; people arguing
- during operations: signs of burglary; rapid extension of fire; OOS sprinklers; odors; incendiary devices
Article focused on incendiary commercial fires and homicides - protection of evidence
2855 suspicious and incendiary fires were reported in 1972.
Fire marshals investigated over 9000 fires, accidents, equipment thefts and certain rule violations in 1972.
- Joined
- May 6, 2010
- Messages
- 16,195
BRIEF NYC FIRE MARSHAL HISTORY.... http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/bfi/history.shtml
- Joined
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- Messages
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INFO ON THE START OF THE RED CAPS IN 1977 BUSHWICK BKLYN...... http://www.upfromflames.brooklynhistory.org/uff_turnaround/uff_turnaround.html