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In the FDNY it is generally not recommended to have a member on a Peaked roof unless the member is tethered to a Tower Ladder bucket or basket railing. The member in the photo is standing on a steeply pitched roof and does not appear to be tethered to anything. The fire appears to be under...

Good stuff even today the basics work well. Remember that at one time if an FDNY required Engine Companies other than 1st or 2nd due on the box must use a 4 1/2" hard suction for hydrant hook ups at serious fire so the hookup supply will not collapse if the hydrant or hookup draws a vacuum or...

Even the scientists examining Lithium batteries do not know why YET. But Lithium batteries that are used and then over and over again only Partially recharged again and again seem to develop a tendency toward run away thermal reactions. This is I believe still under investigation as far as I...

I talked to medical people in Central Florida, and they told me due to Disney World and the number of people from all over the world that come to the Theme parks in Central Florida causes unusual pathogens to show up all the time in and around Central Florida. I myself came down with what a Dr...

Anytime a Lithium battery is crushed. burned, over or rapid charged, bitten by a dog, or even dropped from any height the danger of a "Run A Way" reaction exists. A Dr. Wu of the University of the Western Pacific determined that "Dendrites" can form with in Lithium batteries, causing them to...

Having worked for over 20 years in FDNY in busy Tower Ladders the photograph (Above) is one of the few I ever saw a Tower Ladder bucket placed inside a doorway. The only other time I ever heard of it was a story by FDNY Deputy Chief Vincent Dunn about a Tower Ladder being positioned inside an...

NOTE: Interesting the 5-5-5-5 for Lt. Edward M Keating H&L 22 and Deputy Chief Hefferan 14th Div. of natural causes. Later 5-5-5-5 was only used for Line of Duty or Military Service Deaths, all other members deaths were signal 65-2 = Monitor the Dept. Radio for information. Also, I believe...

Often High Expansion Foam is used for this type of fire. As far as I know FDNY does not have any real amount of Class "A" foam. Back in the 1980's I was covering in Engine 92 in the South Bronx, and they were testing "Wetting Agents" that were added into the hose lines if needed, via a modified...

If this warehouse had a functioning. properly designed sprinkler system, the fire may have required only and engine and a truck and everyone else could have returned to quarters. FDNY had a major problem in Loft district called "Hell's Hundred Aches" in Manhattan before 1970, until proper...

When you place highly combustible building occupancies the chance of a conflagration is greatly increased. These are great firefighters but when faced with these closely positioned situations and add inadequate water supply and inadequate manpoower level on the responding fire apparatus. you...

I could make a comment about reduced manning in some FDNY units. But when you appoint firefighters based on city residency, that are given a 10-point advantage just for living in the city, instead of their ability and fitness for firefighting you are rolling the dice. "Merit matters" not any...

He loves L-24, he had experience in truck work before as a Lieutenant in College Park, L-12 in Prince George County Maryland. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 256 retired

Having worked as the Captain of Engine 26, for 8 years, I know these Broadway Theaters, and they are very complex and also often very old. No two Broadway Theaters are the same. We had a few fires in these theaters when I was active, that never amounted to much, but it was indeed very hard to...

I believe GF means Grass Fire = Brush Fire Unit. My grandson is a Philly Firefighter in L-24, so I am somewhat familiar with the Philly FD units. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired

Yes, that is Bob DeMartini with me in the TL-18's bucket, at a 4th Alarm fire in a vacant "Feather Factory" on I think E. 2dn St. near Ave. B in the late 1970's or early 1980, s. I believe were were waiting water before exposing ourselves the large advance fire in this old Heavy Timber building...

It would make sense to have the Rebreather Unit assigned normally. I think still the Rebreather Unit is not normally fully manned, is that still so? At one time L-20 was used to man the Rebreather unit, in believe. But the situation is a very difficult problem still with poor access to the...

The railroad tunnels under the East River are only approachable via a Deep stairway at 1st Ave. and E.30th Street, in Manhattan. When I retired the stairways were spiral staircases. Any smoke conditions made them very difficult to use by passengers coming up and firefighters going down the...

Good stuff Johnny. I still love the old open rigs and the Mars lights. In the early 1960s I buffed. in Flatbush Brooklyn with E-255 & L-157 and also at times E-309 & L-159. I have vivid memories of E-310's American or Ward LaFrance Quad with a large Flashing light above the windshield that had...

This fire is similar to the 8th alarm in a church on 2nd Ave. in the East Village a few years ago, in that both fires started NOT in the church but in a dwelling building adjoining the church and then spread to the church. Many churches have a Rectory, Nunnery, or Convent close to the Church and...