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FDNY NEWS
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PUBLISHING SINCE 1993
APRIL, 2013
ALLEN EPSTEIN
The all hands was needed at 62nd Drive and Yellowstone Boulevard in Queens for a fire in a two story private home. Crews found the fire on the first and second floors in the rear. Two victims were transported to a local hospital for smoke inhalation. - See full story on page 6
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April, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
Brooklyn fourth alarm damages school building A building on the grounds of Pratt Institute was involved in a fire that destroyed the top floor and roof of the over century old structure on February 15th. At about 2:15 a.m., Brooklyn Dispatch transmitted Box 634 for 200 Willoughby Avenue for a reported fire. On arrival, Battalion 31 transmitted an “all hands� for heavy fire on the top floor of a six story heavy timber main school building. Two minutes later a second
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alarm was called for. Flames soon had possession of the entire sixth floor and began to break through the roof. A third alarm was sounded at 2:42 a.m. and a fourth at 3:11 a.m. Six handlines were used to knock down the fire. Two tower ladders were set up, but did not operate. The fire was placed under con-
trol at 4:10 a.m. with the sixth floor gutted and a large part of the roof collapsed. The fifth floor was also damaged and the lower floors suffered extensive water damage. Two firefighters were reported to have received minor injuries. The fire is initially being considered suspicious due to the amount of fire on arrival. - BILL TOMPKINS
BILL TOMPKINS
BILL TOMPKINS
ALLEN EPSTEIN
BILL TOMPKINS
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
April, 2013
PAgE 3
FRED BACCHI
KAREN EPSTEIN
Wishing a speeding recovery Receiving a call that one of our correspondents had a heart attack is certainly not something we expected here at 1st Responder Newspaper. Joseph Epstein, a well-known photographer in the New York City area, had a major heart attack on Saturday, March 2nd. Due to the fact that his doctor's ofďŹ ce was closed and not expected to open until Tuesday, he went to the hospital on Saturday evening complaining of symptoms associated with the common cold. Lucky for him, the great doctors treating him worked him up immediately. He advised the nurses and doc-
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tors that he had to be in and out quickly to start his double at work. For obvious reasons, he didnt make it into work that day. He was shocked to discover that he was having a heart attack and the symptoms were masked by his cold. "They've been taking great care of me and I'm doing well," said Joseph. Joseph has had dozens of visitors from the Fire Department of New York, OEM, other colleagues
as well as his phenomenal family. He thanks everyone for the great care his getting as well as the love from his extended family. Joseph and his son, Allen, have been with 1st Responder Newspaper reporting in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and other boroughs as needed. They have been an integral part of our FDNY section for many years. As the editor of our publications, I consider Joseph a good friend and wish him the speediest of recoveries. - HEATHER PILLSWORTH
FRED BACCHI
All hands in Astoria Queens Box 7483 was transmitted for a reported fire in a store. TL 163 arrived and transmitted the 10-75 and reported fire in a row of approx 12 attached stores. The fire building was a one story brick 150 X 60. Battalion 49 arrived and transmitted the all hands with a request for an additional engine and two trucks due to roll down gates on all stores. The fire was located in the walls and basement between two stores in the middle of the row. Three lines were stretched and two operated at this fire. The incident was declared under control at 12:55 a.m.
RICHARD YORK
Second alarm in Queens On March 13, 2013 at approximately 8:25 p.m., FDNY crews were toned out for a fire at 150-29 122nd Avenue in Queens. They arrived to find heavy fire on the second floor of a two and a half story private dwelling. Crews quickly got to work dousing the flames. The structure suffered heavy damage.
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April, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
FRED BACCHI
RON JEFFERS
FDNY Marine 6, Marine 1 Alpha and Jersey City Marine 1 FDNY Marine 6, Marine 1 Alpha and Jersey City Marine 1 arrived at Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken, NJ, where three pleasure boats were consumed by fire on February 18th. North Hudson Regional Fire Department Marine 2 was also on the scene, but a low tide prohibited marine operations and the fires were extinguished by water and foam handlines operated by land companies. FDNY provided a marine FAST team with members prepared in water rescue suits.
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FRED BACCHI
All hands in Maspeth On February 28, 2013 at 11:00 a.m., Queens Box 7003 was transmitted for a fire in a one story commercial garage, 50 x 75. Two handlines operated at this fire located on the mezzanine level of the building.
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1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
April, 2013
Page 5
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April, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
ALLEN EPSTEIN
RICHARD YORK
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All hands in Queens
Brush fire leads to discovery of bodies
The all hands was needed at 62nd Drive and Yellowstone Boulevard in Queens for a fire in a two story private home. Crews found the fire on the first and second floors in the rear. Two victims were transported to a local hospital for smoke inhalation.
On March 7, 2012 at approximately 4:30 a.m., FDNY crews were called to a brush fire at Howard Beach in Queens. The FDNY firefighters were assisted by the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Department. It appears the fire was started to cover up a murder of two men. Two bodies were found in the burned out brush.
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
April, 2013
Page 7
Engine 88 and Ladder 38 FDNY HOUSES FDNY HOUSES by Larry Woodcock
Belmont is a neighborhood in the central section of the Bronx. Now, it is known as the “Little Italy” of the Bronx. Everyone refers to it as Arthur Avenue, the commercial and historical epicenter of “Little Italy”. Comprised of restaurants, pastry shops, along with delicatessens; it is the hub of the Central Bronx. A small population of longstanding Italians have kept this neighborhood a bustling community that has had many changes throughout the years. If you are a bread and pastry fan, these two places are a must. Addeo and Sons for the best bread in the Bronx on Hughes Avenue and De Lillos Pastry Shop on 187th Street. Don’t miss out on these and many other great specialty establishments. Belmont is mostly row frames and five and six story tenement buildings with a significant portion being taxpayers. One of the best kept firehouses in this city is located at 2225 Belmont Avenue “First due at the zoo”, 88 and 38. This firehouse was built in 1908 at the cost of $65,000 and at a time when the fire department was is a transition period to the twentieth century, getting away from the elaborate style firehouse that was prevalent in the late nineteenth century to a more modern with much less emphasis on exterior and more of a focus on the interior comforts. Belmont, a mostly Irish community in the late nineteenth century, is now growing with the advent of the Third Avenue “El” and the subway system making the Bronx more accessible. Neighborhoods north and west that were once farmlands became a land of tenements and frames. The Bronx Zoo is Engine 88 and Ladder 38’s first due area. The zoo opened in November of 1899 and is one of the world’s largest metropolitan zoos. It is comprised of 265 acres and is home to over 4,000 animals and 650 different species, with many indoor and outdoor exhibits. The zoo, through which the Bronx River flows, sees over one million visitors a year and parts of the zoo are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. All New York City firehouses have a story and a character or two or even three. This firehouse has a particular one. As you know, many firefighters are skilled craftsmen and some have come up with procedures and methods that are now used across the globe. One invention was born here, the halligan. Hugh Halligan started his ca-
reer here as a “probie” in June of 1916. He distinguished his career on the job by designing and refining this forcible entry tool that is part of the standard “irons” set used by all FDNY truck companies. When manufactured, departments all across the country purchased the tool and it is now used as a standard tool deployment. Hugh Halligan rose up through the ranks, with a short interruption to serve in World War 1, to battalion chief and then to first deputy fire commissioner. In the war years of the FDNY, Engine 88 and Ladder 38 saw prolific fire duty as the work from the South Bronx migrated to the central and northern parts. Each company would logged over 6,000 runs per year over a ten year period. In October of 1969, a second section was added making 88-2. Like many companies in the Bronx at that time, a second company was instituted to offset the high call volume that besieged those areas. They established themselves as aggressive companies with outstanding reputations that still hold true today. 88-2 was disbanded in November of 1972, after a short existence. Of all the notable fires in the city’s and 88 and 38’s long history, one in particular stands out as being one with the largest loss of life at any one fire. On March 25, 1990, both companies responded to Southern Boulevard off Tremont Avenue for fire in a social club that was known to both companies for having been numerous fire code violations in the past. The Happy Land Social Club at 1961 Southern Boulevard was an illegally operated club, containing only one exit on the first floor. The fire took the lives of 87 people when a jilted lover poured gasoline in the building’s only stairwell, trapping dozens upstairs. The fire was put out quickly, but the smoke and heat asphyxiated those trapped on the second floor as they had nowhere to go.
LARRY WOODCOCK
The sad irony of it was that the intended victim escaped unharmed. Engine 88 and Ladder 38 were both organized on the same day: November 15,1908. I attended their centennial cele-
bration, which was a gala affair with many former members in attendance and a tribute to their outstanding reputation. There are two line of duty deaths in the history of both compa-
nies. Over twenty five unit citations and twenty individual medal winners are from 88 and 38. It is good to know that after 104 years, the tradition continues.
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April, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
ALLEN EPSTEIN RICHARD YORK
MVA with victims
Second alarm in Brooklyn On February 21, 2013, a fire broke out on the second and third floors of a three frame at Maujer and Leonard Streets in Brooklyn. Three hose lines were used to extinguish the fire.
FDNY crews were called to Liberty and 150th Street for an MVA with multiple victims on March 10, 2013 an 12:43 p.m.
ALLEN EPSTEIN RICHARD YORK
Five transported in Queens A head on collision at Crossbay Boulevard and 162nd Avenue on March 9th at approximately 8 p.m. The accident resulted in four patients from the cab and one from the white sedan transported to the hospital. The driver of the sedan was transported in critical condition and later succumbed to injuries at Jamaica Hospital.
All hands in Brooklyn FDNY crews were called to Cornelia Street and Evergreen Avenue in Brooklyn for a fire in a three frame. The all hands was needed for a fire on the second floor in the rear. One hose line was used to extinguish the fire.
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
April, 2013
PAgE 9
STEVE WHITE
Truck fire in Staten Island On February 13, 2013, FDNY members knocked down a truck fire on Arlene Street in Staten Island. The motorist was uninjured.
ALLEN EPSTEIN
Brooklyn all hands An all hands fire on February 21st brought crews to Ellery Street and Broadway in Brookyn. Crews found the fire on the second floor. Firefighters used two hose lines and a tower ladder to extinguish the fire.
ALLEN EPSTEIN
Fire in Queens woodworking shop On February 22nd, FDNY crews were called to 12th Street and 43rd Avenue in Queens for a fire in a woodworking shop. Firefighters found fire on the first floor in a dust vat and quickly extinguished it. No extension was found.
FRED BACCHI
All hands in Elmhurst Fire was on the first floor of a three brick, 50 x 100 commercial building located at 7501 Broadway in the Elmhurst section of Queens. Fire was located and confined to the store on the first floor.
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April, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
faces of fDNY’s emergeNcY services To see your Faces in the newspaper upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
FRED BACCHI
STEVE WHITE
Members from Tower Ladder 163 after recent fire in a Commercial Truck Garage in Maspeth, NY.
FDNY members from Engine 165 compare their shaved heads after battling a second alarm in Staten Island
JOE MAZZELLA
Members of FDNY Engine 66 and Ladder 61 pose after MTA bus drill.
STEVE WHITE
Crew of Engine 165 after battling second alarm in Staten Island.
FRED BACCHI
Ladder 154 was the F.A.S.T. truck at a store fire in Astoria.
STEVE WHITE
Crew of Tower Ladder 85 after battling second alarm in Staten Island.
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
April, 2013
PAgE 11
PATCHES If you have Patches you would like to see, please upload them to our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
STEVE SOLOMONSON
BOB LENNEY
FDNY Marine Company 2 was closed January 3, 1991
VEHICLE NEWS If you have Vehicle News you would like to see, please upload them to our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.
NORTH EASTERN RESCUE VEHICLES, INC
The New York Downtown Hospital recently put this 2012 Braun Express T-3 Ambulance into service that was purchased from Tom Walters of North Eastern Rescue Vehicles, Inc.
STEVE SOLOMONSON
SUV takes out fire hydrant At 11:15 p.m. on March 15th, the FDNY was dispatched to a reported SUV that crashed into a fire hydrant at Kings Hwy and Flatbush Ave in Flatbush, Brooklyn. FDNY Engine 323 and Ladder 159 reported an SUV that crashed into the fire hydrant and dislodged it from its base severing a major water line. This caused Kings Hwy to be flooded out just east of Flatbush Ave. Several businesses on Flatbush Ave had water in their basements and several homes on Kings Hwy were reporting flooded basements just east of Flatbush Ave. FDNY requested the Department of Environmental Protection to the scene to assist in the shutting down of the valve, but not before several people reported their basements had already been flooded out. The water was finally shut down by the D.E.P. in just about an hour.
JOE MAZZELLA
FDNY Ladder Co. 61 Bronx, NY, new 2012 Ferrara aerial ladder.
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April, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - FDNY
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