My younger Buff years

6

69 METS

Joined
Jul 22, 2009
Messages
657
Thank you Mike for continuing to share your photographs of the job from the 70's and 80's. Great memories of some of the best years of my life, I miss it everyday.
 
N

nfd2004

Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
5,737
Recently a buff from those busy days sent me this. I'm not sure if it's been posted previously or not.

Comments posted about this audio include:

"We can't give you a second alarm"

"Let the rubbish fire burn and 28 engine leave that truck fire. We got a fully involved vacant building. We need you at........"

"In those days, the brothers could utilize 2 and 1 to extinguish a vacant factory".

In our Monthly Citywide FDNY Fire Activity Reports on this site, I don't think we could keep track of all the jobs going on.

If you have some time to listen to this, here is a "Blast from the Past". For those who were not around then; "YES, it really did happen". "It really was like this".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N1mGAOLra0
 
Last edited:
M

mack

Administrator
Joined
Aug 8, 2009
Messages
13,431
Additional audios from War Years - heavy fire activity in Brooklyn:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqKc3u8arp8
 
N

nfd2004

Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
5,737
I received this story from a Retired FDNY Member named Dan P., I think his user name here is "JohnnyGage". Some of the guys on this site have met Dan. I think he worked Ladder 112, Ladder 31, Ladder 38 and Ladder 5. I first met him at the Rock when he was the chaffer of Ladder 5, a long time ago.

Anyway, here is the story that I thought other members of this site might be interested in reading too.

### Quote ###:
"I recall one time going into work with Jack (I'm not sure the Jack he may be referring to). Must have been a weekend and company drill day. But what a day this would be. We took both rigs across 169th St to Tiffany Street where there was the usual 6 story vacant. The engine hooks up to the hydrant and the boss comes over and tells me to get up on the deck gun. I recall the hose cover being messed up. The MPO shows me how to maneuver the deck gun. He then opens up the deck gun and tells me to just keep shooting the stream into the various windows of "imaginary fire".

"Now I must digress here. Back on Long Island, I was a young junior fireman for my local community. We were never allowed to climb on the apparatus, unless maybe, filling a booster tank, much less touch any equipment on the apparatus. For drill night we were going to do some real firefighting tactics. We were allowed to stretch two lengths of 1 1/2" from a parking lot fire hydrant, fully geared up, under strict supervision. We positioned ourselves behind the nozzleman who was given strict orders to open and close the nozzle s l o w e l y. We made sure our foot positioning was correct in order to take off the pressure. The third man maintaining the line. When the nozzleman moves this way, you move that way etc, etc. You know what I mean. We made sure all movement was performed like a well rehearsed play. We felt like Real Firefighters. This was serious business. All with 60 psi from the hydrant, some hose and water. Anyway, we had fun.

So back to that day. Prior to going to that drill the engine was going to flush out quarters. The housewatch man grabs two lengths of 1 1/2", hooks up to the hydrant in front of quarters, washes down the back of the apparatus floor. I'm amazed that he is doing this by himself without any backup - crazy ! Only then he gives me the knob. And by myself, I'm thinking this is unheard of. I need a backup, strict supervision and a third guy. This is serious S###. He tells me, "you got it kid" and walks off to do something else. I flushed the front half of the apparatus floor and sidewalk with an open bore nozzle in glory. Wait until I tell my junior firefighting colleagues. I was in Heaven. The next surprise was at the drill site and deck gun. What a surprise".
### End of Quote ###.

Thanks Dan, aka JohnnyGage, for that story. What a different time it was. Any young guy who had any interest in the fire dept., the FDNY was the place to be. I can certainly relate also. From the FIRST story I told on this thread of celebrating my 21st birthday with my buff buddy, Timmy, who has since passed away.

We both later became firefighters in Connecticut. Without a doubt from our earliest years of buffing until our retirement, the FDNY taught us all so much. Maybe its because then the FDNY was so good to us and wasn't afraid to let us get involved. From my first day back in 1968 of riding with Rescue 2 and seeing how those guys worked, I believe had a HUGE Impact on guys like myself. We got an education you just couldn't get from reading a book.

There's a lot of friends I have who would readily say the same thing. The FDNY taught them all so much. Many became high ranking officers and taught the younger members what they had the chance to learn themselves.

But it all began with the FDNY. I think it's safe to say that perhaps THREE GENERATIONS of Firefighters have learned because of the workings of guys like the one that let Dan P, aka "JohnnyGage", use the deck gun and operate a hose line.

To this day, some 30, 40 or 50 years later, we all still talk about it and how grateful we are that we had a chance to be a part of it.

THANK YOU to the Members of the FDNY who taught us all so much. Most of us never realized at the time of how it would affect our entire lives. 

 
M

manhattan

Joined
Dec 7, 2007
Messages
1,557
"Most of us never realized at the time of how it would affect our entire lives."  Bravo.  Well said, Bill.
 
1261Truckie

1261Truckie

Joined
Mar 3, 2007
Messages
1,445
A lot of life was lived during those years, a lot of lessons were taught and a lot of lessons were learned. My sincere thanks to the members of this site who share their stories, share their memories and keep the history of that era alive.
 
JohnnyGage

JohnnyGage

Joined
Apr 23, 2018
Messages
1,092
nfd2004 said:
I received this story from a Retired FDNY Member named Dan P., I think his user name here is "JohnnyGage". Some of the guys on this site have met Dan. I think he worked Ladder 112, Ladder 31, Ladder 38 and Ladder 5. I first met him at the Rock when he was the chaffer of Ladder 5, a long time ago.

Anyway, here is the story that I thought other members of this site might be interested in reading too.

### Quote ###:
"I recall one time going into work with Jack (I'm not sure the Jack he may be referring to). Must have been a weekend and company drill day. But what a day this would be. We took both rigs across 169th St to Tiffany Street where there was the usual 6 story vacant. The engine hooks up to the hydrant and the boss comes over and tells me to get up on the deck gun. I recall the hose cover being messed up. The MPO shows me how to maneuver the deck gun. He then opens up the deck gun and tells me to just keep shooting the stream into the various windows of "imaginary fire".

"Now I must digress here. Back on Long Island, I was a young junior fireman for my local community. We were never allowed to climb on the apparatus, unless maybe, filling a booster tank, much less touch any equipment on the apparatus. For drill night we were going to do some real firefighting tactics. We were allowed to stretch two lengths of 1 1/2" from a parking lot fire hydrant, fully geared up, under strict supervision. We positioned ourselves behind the nozzleman who was given strict orders to open and close the nozzle s l o w e l y. We made sure our foot positioning was correct in order to take off the pressure. The third man maintaining the line. When the nozzleman moves this way, you move that way etc, etc. You know what I mean. We made sure all movement was performed like a well rehearsed play. We felt like Real Firefighters. This was serious business. All with 60 psi from the hydrant, some hose and water. Anyway, we had fun.

So back to that day. Prior to going to that drill the engine was going to flush out quarters. The housewatch man grabs two lengths of 1 1/2", hooks up to the hydrant in front of quarters, washes down the back of the apparatus floor. I'm amazed that he is doing this by himself without any backup - crazy ! Only then he gives me the knob. And by myself, I'm thinking this is unheard of. I need a backup, strict supervision and a third guy. This is serious S###. He tells me, "you got it kid" and walks off to do something else. I flushed the front half of the apparatus floor and sidewalk with an open bore nozzle in glory. Wait until I tell my junior firefighting colleagues. I was in Heaven. The next surprise was at the drill site and deck gun. What a surprise".
### End of Quote ###.

Thanks Dan, aka JohnnyGage, for that story. What a different time it was. Any young guy who had any interest in the fire dept., the FDNY was the place to be. I can certainly relate also. From the FIRST story I told on this thread of celebrating my 21st birthday with my buff buddy, Timmy, who has since passed away.

We both later became firefighters in Connecticut. Without a doubt from our earliest years of buffing until our retirement, the FDNY taught us all so much. Maybe its because then the FDNY was so good to us and wasn't afraid to let us get involved. From my first day back in 1968 of riding with Rescue 2 and seeing how those guys worked, I believe had a HUGE Impact on guys like myself. We got an education you just couldn't get from reading a book.

There's a lot of friends I have who would readily say the same thing. The FDNY taught them all so much. Many became high ranking officers and taught the younger members what they had the chance to learn themselves.

But it all began with the FDNY. I think it's safe to say that perhaps THREE GENERATIONS of Firefighters have learned because of the workings of guys like the one that let Dan P, aka "JohnnyGage", use the deck gun and operate a hose line.

To this day, some 30, 40 or 50 years later, we all still talk about it and how grateful we are that we had a chance to be a part of it.

THANK YOU to the Members of the FDNY who taught us all so much. Most of us never realized at the time of how it would affect our entire lives.
Click to expand...


Thanks Willy for sharing my recollection. This is my first post on your wonderful, insightful and informative network. Let me first say how appreciative I am of the abundance of history of the FDNY that is shared with many viewers. I am glad to be aboard! To fill you in on the above story, I was referring to my "Uncle" Jack Mayne, a fireman with L 31.  This was the recollection of a 14 year old teen who would spend a day tour with Jack on Intervale Av during the summer months and other school recesses. The rig I was referring to was E 82's 71 Mack  that "mack" posted a photo of in another thread.
I had a wonderful career with the companies you mention above. I started my career in E 88 working with the legendary Captain "Tough" Timmy Gallagher and now Lt Jack Mayne who was now in L 38. A few years later I crossed the floor and got to work with Jack, even had the pleasure to drive him! How about that dream come true! I retired from L 31 due to circumstances beyond my control, but another dream come true as to have had the honor to work in such historic firehouse. Sadly Uncle Jack is gone, so is Tough Timmy, but I will promise to post some new additions and fond memories of these war heroes, and a couple of others that I had the pleasure and good fortune to work with.

 
1261Truckie

1261Truckie

Joined
Mar 3, 2007
Messages
1,445
Dan/Johnny Gage,
Welcome to this site. Enjoy and have fun. Looking forward to your stories
Jim (aka 1261truckie)
 
M

mack

Administrator
Joined
Aug 8, 2009
Messages
13,431
nfd2004 said:
Dan, aka "JohnnyGage", I am glad that you have officially joined us.

On a side note here - in the "News of Members" (News and Events Section), on page 51 - reply #758, there is a video posted, along with a brief story about Dan, aka "JohnnyGage".

http://nycfire.net/forums/index.php/topic,26011.msg163248.html#msg163248
Click to expand...

Thank you Dan.

    Dan-Potter.jpg
 
J

johnd248

Joined
Jul 14, 2007
Messages
4,564
Johnny Gage: please remember that Willy D's "younger buff years" were back when they had horses.
 
F

fdce54

Joined
Dec 26, 2007
Messages
961
Welcome to the site, Dan. Willie D is the enforcer on the site so don't get on his bad side.
 
raybrag

raybrag

Joined
Apr 1, 2007
Messages
4,105
Welcome to the site, Dan.  I agree with Frank (fdce54) about Willie . . . but you can usually scratch his itches with a couple of Big Macs. And I think John(d248) is wrong . . . they hadn't discovered horses when Willy retired.  Here's a photo of him about 5 years before he retired, along with his company's newest apparatus . . .


 
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