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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...

At a Church fires aiming a Tower Ladder stream into the round or semi-round "Rose Window" is often a great tactic to control fire once it has spread to the "Nave" = the place where most people sit in a church, or fire has extended to the roof above the Nave. Rose windows are often found above...

In FDNY the original reason for Rescue Companies was to rescue firefighters. When I was a Lieutenant, I had the honor of covering tours in FDNY Rescue 1. My friend Lt. Jim Curran Rescue 1, told me that no matter what you were assigned to do working in a FDNY Rescue, always remember your primary...

I say it again. You should Not put the FAST truck to work for anything other than a FAST/Mayday!" Chief's if you must put the FAST Truck to work for fire duty it is because you are play catch up. Chief's if you do not have multiple units standing by "On Deck" you have not planned ahead; you have...

The problem is even the Satellites are being used differently now then years ago. I worked in Satellite 1 often during the 1970's. and yes, often they just dropped "then 4 1/2" inch hose, placed a Satellite Manifold on the end and supplied Tower Ladder, Portable Monitors, or Engines closer to...

I have been retired since 2000, and I seem to remember this building being a problem even back then? I see my former unit Engine 26 was 3rd due on the 1st Alarm. It was much easier for Engine 26 to run South than to run North of E-26's quarters on W. 37 St. between 7th Ave. and 8th Ave...

Happy Birthday brother Captain. Capt. Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired