My younger Buff years

[nfd2004]

kfd274, Both of those sites have some really great stories and Steve Spak has some great photos. The pictures really tell the story. Interesting, in the last photo standing in center is Fire Commissioner William Feehan, who lost his life on 9/11. In the same picture, it looks like Chief Ray Downey on the left, but its hard to tell. He also lost his life on 9/11. He was well known throughout the Fire Service. He played a Major role in the Oklahoma City Explosion which killed 169 people. He also started the US&R (Urban Search and Rescue) Task Forces throughout our country. But I can"t really confirm this is him. Either way, they were some of the Fire Depts Greatest.
  "KFD274", I greatly appreciate your help.

 

[firebuffkevin]

kfd274, Both of those sites have some really great stories and Steve Spak has some great photos. The pictures really tell the story. Interesting, in the last photo standing in center is Fire Commissioner William Feehan, who lost his life on 9/11. In the same picture, it looks like Chief Ray Downey on the left, but its hard to tell. He also lost his life on 9/11. He was well known throughout the Fire Service. He played a Major role in the Oklahoma City Explosion which killed 169 people. He also started the US&R (Urban Search and Rescue) Task Forces throughout our country. But I can"t really confirm this is him. Either way, they were some of the Fire Depts Greatest.
  "KFD274", I greatly appreciate your help.

Yes nfd2004 your absolutely right about Ray Downey, he was internationally known in urban search and rescue.  I don't think it's him in these pix.  Bill Feehan was another giant. I believe that he had retired, and was asked to come back to the department because of his abilities and knowledge. He lived in Flushing where I grew up.  Great men taken to soon, but doing what they loved. RIP all 343.

 

[nfd2004]

In My Younger Buff Years several times I mention about The Greatest Generation of Firefighters during the FDNY War Years. The two names above who we lost on September 11, 2001 in the Attack on America. Those two names, Commissioner William Feehan, and Chief Ray Downy, are "Perfect Examples" of The Greatest Generation of Firefighters. Both men fought the fires during the FDNY War Years.
  Commissioner William Feehan joined the Dept in 1959. Rose up through the ranks during the Busiest time for the FDNY. In 1991 he became the FDNYs 23rd Chief of Dept.
  Chief Ray Downy was a 39 year veteran member of the Dept. I believe he joined the Dept in 1962. He also rose up through the ranks during the busiest time for the FDNY. He was the most highly decorated member in FDNY History.
  These are the kind of hero's that fought fires on a daily basis during those historic busy times. They knew what it was like to finally sit down to the evening meal at 3 AM if they were lucky. Or to go from one call to another without getting back to the firehouse to change some wet clothes. Or to fight a building fire by themselves until another company was freed up to help them. No Fast Co., No Rac Unit, even sometimes No third or fourth engine.
  These are just Two of the 343 firefighters that lost their lives on that Terrible Day for America. These two hero's just happen to be the kind of firefighters we"ve been talking about on these 10 or 11 pages.

 

[firebuffkevin]

In My Younger Buff Years several times I mention about The Greatest Generation of Firefighters during the FDNY War Years. The two names above who we lost on September 11, 2001 in the Attack on America. Those two names, Commissioner William Feehan, and Chief Ray Downy, are "Perfect Examples" of The Greatest Generation of Firefighters. Both men fought the fires during the FDNY War Years.
  Commissioner William Feehan joined the Dept in 1959. Rose up through the ranks during the Busiest time for the FDNY. In 1991 he became the FDNYs 23rd Chief of Dept.
  Chief Ray Downy was a 39 year veteran member of the Dept. I believe he joined the Dept in 1962. He also rose up through the ranks during the busiest time for the FDNY. He was the most highly decorated member in FDNY History.
   These are the kind of hero's that fought fires on a daily basis during those historic busy times. They knew what it was like to finally sit down to the evening meal at 3 AM if they were lucky. Or to go from one call to another without getting back to the firehouse to change some wet clothes. Or to fight a building fire by themselves until another company was freed up to help them. No Fast Co., No Rac Unit, even sometimes No third or fourth engine.
   These are just Two of the 343 firefighters that lost their lives on that Terrible Day for America. These two hero's just happen to be the kind of firefighters we"ve been talking about on these 10 or 11 pages.

Amen nfd2004.

 

[nfd2004]

  From the retired Capt of Engine 82, who was also a Lt with Engine 50 before that during The War Years. He states that of all the busy boxes that he responded to, for some reason Box 2508 at Hoe and Aldus, the people were the "Worst". They would often throw things from the rooftops and the Engine would have to back out. He would like to go back there to see what it looks like today, But he says some old geezer would probadly recognize him from years ago, and start throwing things at him again. "For some reason that was a Nasty street back then".
  Well, I hope to visit the area on my next trip to see what it looks like now. I just hope that old Geezer doesn"t remember me and start throwing that s**t at me.

 

[nfd2004]

From around the 1980s to 2001, when I"d first get to NYC around noon time, I would head to the Fire Academy (called: The Rock). There I was able to get numerous rig shots,(some on www.emtbravo.net, "Protection from the Past"), plus watch the Training activities going on. It was a good place to learn just from watching. And I could still take in the jobs in Harlem or the Bronx just by getting onto the Triboro Bridge, then going onto the Bruckner, Major Deegan, or Harlem River Dr. Yes, the Red Cap Program was working well in cutting down the fires, but STILL, there were plenty to see. Many times, I left the Rock and just followed the huge column of smoke. As long as there wasn"t too much traffic, I had no problems getting to the jobs. I"d usually stay at the Rock until about 3 PM, then head up to my Webster Ave McDonalds hang out. As I mentioned before it was a good place to catch work. I think my favorite company was Eng 92 and Lad 44, because I got to see them at so many jobs. But alot of other companies were catching it also. It was busy all the way up to Fordham Rd. During the War Years, most of the work was below the Cross Bronx Expressway, and then spread North to East Tremont Ave. By the 1980s, work was spreading up to the Fordham Rd area. Eng 88 and Lad 38 were getting their share of work also. I think one of the big differences that separated the War Years from the beginning 80s was that in the busy War Years, you could hang out at a busy company and pretty much catch a job or two. Later in the 1980s, the work was more spread out.
  The Bronx had Division 6, 7, and 9 (I think). But as best I could remember I only caught jobs with the 6th and 7th Divisions. Although I do remember catching a Second Alarm somewhere maybe Bronxwood and 215th St or White Plains Rd and 215th St area. And that was only because I was on my way home. Otherwise I never went up that far, even if there was a job.

 

[nfd2004]

Found this of some Great Photos of jobs in the 1980s by Michael Dick. Hope it works. He also published a book called; "New Yorks Bravest, their lives on the line" in 1987. Yes, the FDNY fought fires then too. Same heat and smoke after The War Years. And as Mike says "the same dedication continues with the FDNY". Thanks Mike for allowing us to view these. They are Quite Impressive.
http://fdnysbravest.com/

 

[grumpy grizzly]

Speaking of books there are two relatively inexpensive books that are available from Acardia Books (www.arcadiapublishing.com).  One is New York City Firefighting 1901-2001 by Steven Scher (22.99) The other is Historic Fires of New York City by Corbett and Cannon (19.99) Both books are black and white 124-144 pages in length. 8)

 

[firebuffkevin]

Found this of some Great Photos of jobs in the 1980s by Michael Dick. Hope it works. He also published a book called; "New Yorks Bravest, their lives on the line" in 1987. Yes, the FDNY fought fires then too. Same heat and smoke after The War Years. And as Mike says "the same dedication continues with the FDNY". Thanks Mike for allowing us to view these. They are Quite Impressive.
                            http://fdnysbravest.com/

There are some great pictures displayed.  Check out the unusual Foam Truck, and L44 overurned on its right side.

 

[catry]

That Foam truck looks like a Hi-Ex unit, one of those things that never actually worked.

 

[firebuffkevin]

That Foam truck looks like a Hi-Ex unit, one of those things that never actually worked.

I think you might be right.

 

[Bulldog]

That Foam truck looks like a Hi-Ex unit, one of those things that never actually worked.

I won't say they never actually worked.  They had very limited usage but there were certain situations where they worked very well.  The department I was in had one and several times it kept crews from taking the blow going into a limited access fire situation (usually basements).  Today they have been replaced by other technologies but when they were developed they were actually quite effective.

 

[guitarman314]

That Foam truck looks like a Hi-Ex unit, one of those things that never actually worked.

I think you might be right.

  It IS the Hi-Ex Foam Unit which was mounted on a former 1969 Mack tractor

 

[nfd2004]

Yes, the Hi-Ex Foam Unit was not used very often. But it did work well when called. I remember one fire written up in an older WNYF Magazine and that unit played a key role in putting out that fire. The Hi-Ex Foam Unit was kept at the quarters of Eng 212 if I remember correctly. Also, as I remember, that was actually the only Foam Unit I remember the FDNY having at the time. The other Foam Units, as we know them today, didn"t come into service until later on. I think the next Foam Unit to come into service was Eng 71s or 73s(?) Articulating Squirt Unit, that was converted into a Foam Unit. As I remember it was quartered in a Station Island Firehouse. Maybe one of my "Over the Hill Friends" can help help out ! ! !  ???  ??? ???

 

[guitarman314]

Yes, the Hi-Ex Foam Unit was not used very often. But it did work well when called. I remember one fire written up in an older WNYF Magazine and that unit played a key role in putting out that fire. The Hi-Ex Foam Unit was kept at the quarters of Eng 212 if I remember correctly. Also, as I remember, that was actually the only Foam Unit I remember the FDNY having at the time. The other Foam Units, as we know them today, didn"t come into service until later on. I think the next Foam Unit to come into service was Eng 71s or 73s(?) Articulating Squirt Unit, that was converted into a Foam Unit. As I remember it was quartered in a Station Island Firehouse. Maybe one of my "Over the Hill Friends" can help help out ! ! !  ???  ??? ???

It was kept at E160 but I forgot if it was the former E71/E43 or the E310. Anyway, one became a Foam Squirt and the other was assigned as E70 (City Isl.) after being retrofitted with a Telesquirt.

 

[nfd2004]

Thanks G-man for coming through. Now yes, I do remember that Foam Unit being kept at Eng 160. I was hoping one of those "Over the Hill Guys" would come through. We are all so lucky to have Those Old Guys on this site to help us out. I do believe somewhere on this web site is listed where the Squirt Units were first quartered as Engine Companies in History. Maybe under War Years Trivia.

 

[firebuffkevin]

Yes, the Hi-Ex Foam Unit was not used very often. But it did work well when called. I remember one fire written up in an older WNYF Magazine and that unit played a key role in putting out that fire. The Hi-Ex Foam Unit was kept at the quarters of Eng 212 if I remember correctly. Also, as I remember, that was actually the only Foam Unit I remember the FDNY having at the time. The other Foam Units, as we know them today, didn"t come into service until later on. I think the next Foam Unit to come into service was Eng 71s or 73s(?) Articulating Squirt Unit, that was converted into a Foam Unit. As I remember it was quartered in a Station Island Firehouse. Maybe one of my "Over the Hill Friends" can help help out ! ! !  ???  ??? ???

It was kept at E160 but I forgot if it was the former E71/E43 or the E310. Anyway, one became a Foam Squirt and the other was assigned as E70 (City Isl.) after being retrofitted with a Telesquirt.

There are pictures of these "Squirts" in Wheels of the Bravest.  Two Mack CF 1000 GPM pumpers were delivered in 1970 equipped with 54' Squirt booms. The one shown went to E71 (page 166).  Later, as mentioned above, one went to E70 in 1976, (page 177).

 

[firebuffkevin]

Thanks G-man for coming through. Now yes, I do remember that Foam Unit being kept at Eng 160. I was hoping one of those "Over the Hill Guys" would come through. We are all so lucky to have Those Old Guys on this site to help us out. I do believe somewhere on this web site is listed where the Squirt Units were first quartered as Engine Companies in History. Maybe under War Years Trivia.

Found a picture of the foam unit in WOB on page 179.  Description reads "Shops utilized another of the 1969 Mack MB tractors to fabricate this High Expansion Foam Unit in 1977"

 

[grumpy grizzly]

Squrts, one went to Engine 71. A October 1976 location chart shows one at Engine 70

 

[guitarman314]

Squrts, one went to Engine 71. A October 1976 location chart shows one at Engine 70

  The one that went to E71 was reassigned to E43 in 1974