Combination Fire Company

[Fireinfo101]

This might seem like a stupid and obvious quest but what is a Combination Fire Company? How many were/are there? What are their unit numbers? And any photos? Thanks for your help.

 

[manhattan]

Old adage: "There is no such thing as a 'stupid question' as long as one is willing to learn."

 

[Disp51]

Welcome Fireinfo101,
Using the search feature will give you a wealth of FDNY history, etc. For example, your question about combination companies was raised by nfd2004 on Oct. 14,2004. Bring up that page, and you'll find quite a bit of information on them.

 

[mack]

Look at FDNY and NYC Firehouses and Fire Companies (first thread) in this History section page 127 for information, pictures, runs of 1970s combination companies.

 

[mack]

There were 3 combination companies organized from 3 engine and 3 truck companies in the 1970s to save money when NYC was have a budget problem.  Combos were in SI, Queens and the Bronx in outlaying areas.  Combos combined engine and truck companies in same firehouse to form one unit.  A captain replaced the 2 officers normally assigned to 2 individual companies.  The combo unit would respond with bot pumper and ladder apparatus on all responses.  Unit would then have 2 teams at any incident. Plan was to develop more Combos but system was inefficient and not flexible.  See more information in Firehouse thread one page 127.

FDNY also used combination fire companies when expansion of FDNY took place after 1898 when Brooklyn, Queens and SI became part of NYC.