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More sad news. here in Orange County N.Y... Legendary FDNY South Bronx Lieutenant, Lt. Tom Simmons retired from Engine 82 has passed away. I believe Tom was 94 and was also a long time U.S. Marine. Tom fought in the Korean War and it Viet Nam and won many awards and metals for his distinguished...

At true real "Halligan Tool" has NO weld it and is dropped forged in one piece to make it stronger than one that is welded together. There is an old W.N.Y.F. = With N.Y. Firemen article by Hugh Halligan about his tool. The story goes he found a tool on a fire escape at a fire in Harlem. that was...

Firefighters' tests done on some "Fast Food" building have shown that once the fire reaches the "Truss Loft", just under the roof, due to the way they are often built using light weight wood truss components, can collapse in under 2 minutes once the fire is burning in the lightweight truss...

Here in Orange County N.Y., we lost 2 great FDNY Firefighters. who were also longtime Volunteer firefighters. Ff. Mike Lee retired from FDNY Bronx Ladder 27 & former Chief of South Blooming Grove V.F.D... And sadly, ALSO Ff, John A. Braunagel Jr. ACTIVE Firefighter FDNY Bronx Ladder 38 and...

I know that you MUST have one person in Overall in command at every fire and emergency. That person can supervise only 5 or 6 command people at one time = Limiting Span of Control for the Incident Commander. If not one person is is overall control than "no one is truly in control" and goals...

Once again if this is not a 6th Alarm with all the units Special Called above the 5th Alarm, what is? Who kidding who? The reluctancy exit the building when it is truly lost to fire can be based on lack of each unit truly knowing the serious extent of the damage already done to the building...

68jk09 you make very good points above. I was not working but my old unit FDNY unit, Engine 26 responded to a water main break on Manhattan's 5th Ave at W. 34th Street just Infront of the Empire State Building. The water main break caused a street collapse that broke a sizable gas main and...

You never truly know what is under the water, an open manhole ad street cave in how do you know? If you are walking through water, use a Pike Pole or other tool ahead of you to "FEEL" for any hole hidden under the water. I once saw a firefighter walk down a flooded street and fall into a...

I don't distract from the good intentions of the workers that tried to help, in this incident., but unless your trained to properly remove Trama victims from car wrecks, you may make the situation worse. If anyone of the women in the car had spinal injuries, and they were not properly "packaged"...

I had visited the London Fire Brigade when I was there a few years ago, at a Brigade station not too far from the Tower of London. I was warmly welcomed and spent some pleasant time talking about the Fire Service in London Vs. FDNY. Truth be told we both have something to learn from each other...

Yes, the truth is this procedure has been around since the 1970's. It is always nicer to know who ordered what. Not everyone knows who is working in a particular unit that is asking for the multiple alarm or other need for help. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired

Looks like an "Aggressive Exterior" with a Deck Gun/L.C.S. would been my decision. Studies show this saves lives, property and time. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26

A Mayday at this fire, so that is why an additional Squad & Rescue were "Special Called' Rescue 4 from Queens & Squad 61. Does anyone know why NO E.M.S. M.E.R.V. was available in NYC? Seems like an abnormal amount of greater/multiple alarms = above 2nd alarms are being transmitted, The good...

The area in which this fire and L.O.D.D. happened, was at one time called "Hell Hundred Acres" due to the numbers of serious and deadly fires in the old Loft/heavy Timber buildings in the area. Canal St. was back then an open and still is now an "underground" a Canal and the Lofts were filled by...

Having work as a Lieutenant and later a Captain in Midtown, many maybe 1/4 of the serious fires, in Midtown were and are related to duct fires. A full examination of the duct/s must be made from the bottom to the roof and any exposed areas above. Hoselines must be stretched to the point of...

I had always thought that Johnny Gauge was really the "Site name of Randy Mantooth". I know and have talked with Dan Potter and have read a copy of his very fine book "They Saved New York", that Dan had donated to the Middletown World Trade Center Health Care Program, where I work. As stated...

I had the honor of meeting Rich Mantooth who played Johnny Gauge in the show "Emergency". We (Engine 26) were operating a ceiler fire in Midtown on a very hot July day. We got some water and were sitting down on the curb across from the fire building, taking a "Blow"= Break from a very hot fire...

Welcome home good and faithful servant

Remember, Signal 10-70 indicates Engine Co. is having water supply problem and the normally means the second due Engine Co. needs is to ensure that the 1st Due Engine has a positive reliable water supply. This may mean relay pumping or stretching additional supply hoseline/s or whatever else is...

You are right it is the Williamsburg Bridge at the end of Delancy St. It was 50 years ago, and I should have made sure I was correct before posting. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired