What some of you guys might not know was that FDNY response policies were never standardized borough or citywide. Different area had different responses. Example would be the northern regions of the Bronx. The first alarm only called for two engines & two ladders. This was in affect from Riverdale to Classon Point. The second alarm saw the response of four engines & one ladder. Besides there were no 'fast trucks'. This policy was also found in remote areas (bedroom communities) of the three other out lyings boroughs.
Rand came to FDNY in the late 70's & early 80's studying what was going on within FDNY. When they released there first response plan there was a lot of problems with it. One that stood out was that Ladder 39 no longer responded to Jerome Ave & East 233 St. which was a few blocks from their former station. Engine 52 & Ladder 52 were first due on the first alarm to that location. The main problem was how did the 'twins' get around Van Courtland Park. This was based on 'blocks' that were placed into the computer that generated the first set of computer responses. Based on these blocks & other considerations, Rand developed the idea that associated a cost factor with responses & required coverage of a company. Example - if Engine 70 was to respond to the Pelham Bay community on the second or third alarm what would it cost to protect their isolated first due area. In this case, Engine 70 has no other boxes to respond to other then first due on the first alarm. If the cost level was too high, it was better to bypass that unit. Good idea! This played a major part for the companies that are along the Queens - Nassau border line too.
However some of there ideas was quickly placed into operation by FDNY & one was in the busy areas to hold the last due engine on the first alarm in reserve for another call. Rand also got FDNY to standardize alarm levels. There were boxes in The Bronx that had 5 or 6 engine companies assigned on the upper multiple alarm level based on what the hazard was in the area of that box. The levels vary box by box. Manhattan all way has a high number of units responding into the lower area of the borough.
Rand also produced the programs where there was a reduced response to boxes based on its local & previous incident history. Some of these boxes saw the response level on the first alarm drop to 1 & 1 or 2 & 1 only if it was a pulled fire box. No battalion chief was assigned. This was done to increase the availability of units borough wide. Remember that pre-war years The Bronx only had 7 battalions!
Years back when some of the engine companies had hose wagons assigned to them, the public always counted them as a separate company.
Pre-Rand all FDNY assignment cards were figured out by hand. The Alarm Assignment Unit had a large full time crew that measured all the assignments. As the crew changed the new unit members never knew why certain companies had restrictions placed on them. Engine 68 only responded on the first alarm due to their area, hills & dead-ended streets, but Ladder 49 responded without any restrictions. Engine 72 today only responds first, second, or third due on the first alarm because of the Satellite Unit. On the other hand, over the bridge in Queens Engine 273 was restricted because Engine 272 (also in Flushing) was eliminated.
Over the years Engine 295 & 297 were also restricted because of there area, but also for the elimination of
Engine 296.
Years back there was also a term used by FDNY & that was a 'KEY COMPANY'. If that company was out, the job wanted them covered. Today unless there was a change in the last few years, responses are based on a response neighbor, two of the same type of units. Years back prearranged relocations were printed on the assignment cards & automatically implemented by the alarm level disregarding other ongoing incidents. Years back, they only planned for one incident happening at a time. Sometimes moving two or three companies to cover one unit. Example Engine B went to Engine E who relocated to Engine M who was fighting a fire.
Now back to The Bronx, I saw over the years assignments change because of a company thinking that they could beat another company into a box. Air Miles might work for helicopters, but does not work for fire apparatus. Computer generated assignments must take traffic flow into consideration. Highway responses can not & should not be considered. Street responses only! Highways are not a dependable route. Who should be second due on City Island?
I hate to say this, but one think that you should realize that FDNY is based on Old Fashion traditions. The same hold true for Alarm Assignments. The original Bronx was south of Kingsbridge Rd & East Fordham Rd to the Bronx River. Then the Bronx River south to the East River. The East Bronx & North Bronx were areas annex from Westchester Counties. The old assignment cards for this area had major discrepancies on them.
Two adjacent units normally did not respond on the same upper alarm levels because it would leave too large of an area unprotected for too long of a time. Some of the response policy changes has eliminated these problems.
I been around for a good number of years having buffed the job & also being a member of FDNY. What I write about is things that I know about. Not saying that all was 100% perfect, but telling you the way it was & maybe why. If I was to tell you that Engines 41, 42, 43, 48, 50, 61, 62, 64, 71, 79, 81, 83, 90, & 97 did most of the Bronx relocating. This was pre-Engine 66 & 72. Also not counted was Engine 85.
Please enjoy the information. You see over my years other people took the time out to explain to me why!
