How did the Collaspe Rescues come around?

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Mar 7, 2023
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i believe one was with rescue 3 that came in in the early nineties i believe it was at the wtc 93 bombing it went on 9/11 and after that they made collapses for the other rescues
 
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This question just randomly came to mind, if anyone knows how I would like to know.
A few of the guest on Gettin Salty talk about this. John Norman, Jay Jonas, John O’Connell ( who wrote a lot
Of the training) among others. They do a collapse episode with info you’re probabaly looking for.
 
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Hope this info helps from nyfd history page

RESCUE COLLAPSE UNIT 1 MANHATTAN
ORG. 511 W. 181st St. At R-3 (Apr. 5, 1988)

RESCUE COLLAPSE UNIT 1 MANHATTAN
REORG. 205 W. 77th St. At L-25 (Aug. 3, 2004)
DISB. (To Org. Collapse Rescue Unit 1) (Aug. 15, 2005)

COLLAPSE RESCUE UNIT 1 MANHATTAN ORG. 205 W. 77th St. At L-25 (Aug. 15, 2005)

RESCUE COLLAPSE UNIT 1 BRONX RELOC. 453 E. 176th St. W/ R-3 (Jul. 1, 1992)
DISB. To Org Rescue Collapse Unit 3 (Jan. 13, 2004)

RESCUE COLLAPSE UNIT 2 BROOKLYN ORG. 489 St. Johns Pl. At L-132 (Jan. 13, 2004)
DISB. To Reog. Collapse Unit 1 (Aug. 3, 2004) REORG. 489 St. Johns Pl. At L-132 (Aug. 10, 2004)
DISB. (To Org. Collapse Rescue Unit 2) (Aug. 15, 2005)

COLLAPSE RESCUE UNIT 2 BROOKLYN ORG. 489 St. Johns Pl. At L-132 (Aug. 15, 2005)

RESCUE COLLAPSE UNIT 3 BRONX ORG. 453 E. 176th St. At R-3 (Jan. 13, 2004)
DISB. (To Org. Collapse Rescue Unit 3) (Aug. 15, 2005)

COLLAPSE RESCUE UNIT 3 BRONX ORG. 453 E. 176th St. At R-3 (Aug. 15, 2005)

COLLAPSE RESCUE UNIT 4 QUEENS ORG. 37-20 29th St. At L-116 (Aug. 15, 2005)

COLLAPSE UNIT 5 STATEN ISLAND ORG. 1850 Clove Rd. At R-5 (Aug. 15, 2005)

RESCUE COLLAPSE UNIT 6 MANHATTAN ORG. 253 Lafayette St. W/ R-6 (Aug. 3, 2004) DISB. (Nov. 3, 2004)
 
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As explained by Chief Norman and others in the Gettin Salty episodes, the current collapse rescue units are the product of an evolution of SOC. Pre-911 and before the formalization of SOC, each of the five rescues had their own speciality. Rescue 1 (and 5, I think?) had the specialty of dive rescue, Rescue 4 had the speciality of HAZMAT (before HM1 was organized in 1984 then continued as a support function after that I believe). Rescue 3's speciality was collapse. R3 with Collapse Rescue 3 responded city-wide on collapses. From Signal's post above, it looks like this was true from 1988 to 2005. With the massive expansion of SOC pre and post 9/11, individual rescue companies no longer had their own specialties, but rather all rescues were trained and equipped with all specialties. The idea was that each borough should be able to operate independently. Thus, all five rescues got dive trained, all five rescues got collapse pieces, etc. This is to say nothing of all the other aspects of building out SOC such as the return of Squads, HMTUs, SOC battalion evolution into RB, MB, HMB, evolution of the Marine division, CTU, etc. This is my understanding of things based off listening to discussions from Chief Norman, Chief Salka, Chief Lafemina, Chief Richardson, and other great guests on Gettin Salty.
 
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As explained by Chief Norman and others in the Gettin Salty episodes, the current collapse rescue units are the product of an evolution of SOC. Pre-911 and before the formalization of SOC, each of the five rescues had their own speciality. Rescue 1 (and 5, I think?) had the specialty of dive rescue, Rescue 4 had the speciality of HAZMAT (before HM1 was organized in 1984 then continued as a support function after that I believe). Rescue 3's speciality was collapse. R3 with Collapse Rescue 3 responded city-wide on collapses. From Signal's post above, it looks like this was true from 1988 to 2005. With the massive expansion of SOC pre and post 9/11, individual rescue companies no longer had their own specialties, but rather all rescues were trained and equipped with all specialties. The idea was that each borough should be able to operate independently. Thus, all five rescues got dive trained, all five rescues got collapse pieces, etc. This is to say nothing of all the other aspects of building out SOC such as the return of Squads, HMTUs, SOC battalion evolution into RB, MB, HMB, evolution of the Marine division, CTU, etc. This is my understanding of things based off listening to discussions from Chief Norman, Chief Salka, Chief Lafemina, Chief Richardson, and other great guests on Gettin Salty.
probably also to allow ease of details and transfers if they all get the same training then it means at a scene both rescues are trained the same and both know exactly what to do instead of waiting for a specific rescue with a specialty
 
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Hope this info helps from nyfd history page

RESCUE COLLAPSE UNIT 1 MANHATTAN
ORG. 511 W. 181st St. At R-3 (Apr. 5, 1988)

RESCUE COLLAPSE UNIT 1 MANHATTAN
REORG. 205 W. 77th St. At L-25 (Aug. 3, 2004)
DISB. (To Org. Collapse Rescue Unit 1) (Aug. 15, 2005)

COLLAPSE RESCUE UNIT 1 MANHATTAN ORG. 205 W. 77th St. At L-25 (Aug. 15, 2005)

RESCUE COLLAPSE UNIT 1 BRONX RELOC. 453 E. 176th St. W/ R-3 (Jul. 1, 1992)
DISB. To Org Rescue Collapse Unit 3 (Jan. 13, 2004)

RESCUE COLLAPSE UNIT 2 BROOKLYN ORG. 489 St. Johns Pl. At L-132 (Jan. 13, 2004)
DISB. To Reog. Collapse Unit 1 (Aug. 3, 2004) REORG. 489 St. Johns Pl. At L-132 (Aug. 10, 2004)
DISB. (To Org. Collapse Rescue Unit 2) (Aug. 15, 2005)

COLLAPSE RESCUE UNIT 2 BROOKLYN ORG. 489 St. Johns Pl. At L-132 (Aug. 15, 2005)

RESCUE COLLAPSE UNIT 3 BRONX ORG. 453 E. 176th St. At R-3 (Jan. 13, 2004)
DISB. (To Org. Collapse Rescue Unit 3) (Aug. 15, 2005)

COLLAPSE RESCUE UNIT 3 BRONX ORG. 453 E. 176th St. At R-3 (Aug. 15, 2005)

COLLAPSE RESCUE UNIT 4 QUEENS ORG. 37-20 29th St. At L-116 (Aug. 15, 2005)

COLLAPSE UNIT 5 STATEN ISLAND ORG. 1850 Clove Rd. At R-5 (Aug. 15, 2005)

RESCUE COLLAPSE UNIT 6 MANHATTAN ORG. 253 Lafayette St. W/ R-6 (Aug. 3, 2004) DISB. (Nov. 3, 2004)
Updates with the name changes over the years.

Structural Collapse Utility Unit 1Organized511 W 181st St, Manhattan4/5/1988with Rescue 3
Structural Collapse Utility Unit 1Relocated453 E 176th St, Bronx7/1/1992with Rescue 3
Structural Collapse Utility Unit 1Redesignatedas Rescue Collapse Unit 31/13/2004
Rescue Collapse Unit 1Organized205 W 77th St, Manhattan8/3/2004at Ladder 25, from Rescue Collapse Unit 2
Rescue Collapse Unit 1Redesignatedas Collapse Rescue Unit 18/15/2005
Collapse Rescue Unit 1Temporary3/1/2015with Engine 91
Collapse Rescue Unit 1
Collapse Rescue Unit 1Temporary340 E 14th St, Manhattan6/14/2017with Engine 5
Collapse Rescue Unit 1Relocated205 W 77th St, Manhattan3/1/2019with Ladder 25
Collapse Rescue Unit 1Temporarywith Engine 39
Rescue Collapse Unit 2Organized489 Saint John's Pl, Brooklyn1/13/2004with Ladder 132
Rescue Collapse Unit 2Disbandedto reorganize Collapse Unit 18/3/2004
Rescue Collapse Unit 2Reorganized489 Saint John's Pl, Brooklyn8/10/2004with Ladder 132
Rescue Collapse Unit 2Redesignatedas Collapse Rescue Unit 28/15/2005
Collapse Rescue Unit 2New Station1815 Sterling Pl near Saratoga11/14/2019with Rescue 2
Rescue Collapse Unit 3Organized453 E 176th St, Bronx1/13/2004with Rescue 3, from Structural Collapse Utility Unit 1
Rescue Collapse Unit 3Redesignatedas Collapse Rescue Unit 38/15/2005
Collapse Rescue Unit 3New Station1655 Washington Ave, Bronx12/31/2009open 12/08/2009
Collapse Rescue Unit 4Organized37-20 29th St, Queens8/15/2005with Ladder 116
Collapse Rescue Unit 5Organized1850 Clove Rd, Staten Island8/15/2005with Rescue 5
Rescue Collapse Unit 6Organized253 Lafayette St, Manhattan8/3/2004with Rescue 6
Rescue Collapse Unit 6Disbanded11/3/2004
 
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I feel what’s is not understood or sometimes not comprehend is that the collapse units ARE the second piece of the Rescue companies …just like the squads and HMTU have second piece. It’s just that for logistical reasons they ..especially early on, are quartered in other firehouses. Today it’s just R-1 & R-4 for logistical reasons that have their associated collapse rig stored in a different firehouse. The hosting fire company isn’t responsible for maintaining , restocking or any weekly equipment maintenance & inspections (or trained in building collapse or trench rescue) the associated Rescue company is. R-4 goes over to L-116 quarters every Saturday for a few hours to do so.…not sure what day R-1 does but I know at they do also. Someday R-1 & R-4 will have a new firehouse big enough to house all 3 of their rigs like the new firehouses for R2 & R-3 have now. Ideally R-4 will be more centrally located in the Boro.
 
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Mar 30, 2023
Messages
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I feel what’s is not understood or sometimes not comprehend is that the collapse units ARE the second piece of the Rescue companies …just like the squads and HMTU have second piece. It’s just that for logistical reasons they ..especially early on, are quartered in other firehouses. Today it’s just R-1 & R-4 for logistical reasons that have their associated collapse rig stored in a different firehouse. The hosting fire company isn’t responsible for maintaining , restocking or any weekly equipment maintenance & inspections (or trained in building collapse or trench rescue) the associated Rescue company is. R-4 goes over to L-116 quarters every Saturday for a few hours to do so.…not sure what day R-1 does but I know at they do also. Someday R-1 & R-4 will have a new firehouse big enough to house all 3 of their rigs like the new firehouses for R2 & R-3 have now Hopefully R-4 will be more centrally located in the Boro.
R1 and R4 has 3 Rigs?? Or are you referring to Rescue, Collaspe Resuce and the Spare.
 
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Feb 4, 2013
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I feel what’s is not understood or sometimes not comprehend is that the collapse units ARE the second piece of the Rescue companies …just like the squads and HMTU have second piece. It’s just that for logistical reasons they ..especially early on, are quartered in other firehouses. Today it’s just R-1 & R-4 for logistical reasons that have their associated collapse rig stored in a different firehouse. The hosting fire company isn’t responsible for maintaining , restocking or any weekly equipment maintenance & inspections (or trained in building collapse or trench rescue) the associated Rescue company is. R-4 goes over to L-116 quarters every Saturday for a few hours to do so.…not sure what day R-1 does but I know at they do also. Someday R-1 & R-4 will have a new firehouse big enough to house all 3 of their rigs like the new firehouses for R2 & R-3 have now. Ideally R-4 will be more centrally located in the Boro.
Does the city have the locations for new rescue houses picked yet? I remember seeing a thread a while ago regarding Rescue 1. I believe it stated that the property wouldn't be available for a couple of years. It may have been that long since I saw the thread.
 
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This is my opinion, not anything Offical, just my opinions on where companies should be. R5/CR5. Mid-Island somewhere on Victory near Manor Heights. R4 and CR4 might work at 73rd and Utopia Pwky, R1 kinda works right there but I'm surprised on how there pulling out of there quarters on that block. But CR1 shouldn't be that far from. Maybe somewhere near 59th and 5th or on Central Park West for both companies, or just collaspe. R3 is actually somewhat fine where it is. R2 works with its actual spot to. If R6 was kept in service after the RNC, maybe Southern Queens exculding JFK. Along with probably Bushwick Brooklyn and Highland Park.
 
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This is my opinion, not anything Offical, just my opinions on where companies should be. R5/CR5. Mid-Island somewhere on Victory near Manor Heights. R4 and CR4 might work at 73rd and Utopia Pwky, R1 kinda works right there but I'm surprised on how there pulling out of there quarters on that block. But CR1 shouldn't be that far from. Maybe somewhere near 59th and 5th or on Central Park West for both companies, or just collaspe. R3 is actually somewhat fine where it is. R2 works with its actual spot to. If R6 was kept in service after the RNC, maybe Southern Queens exculding JFK. Along with probably Bushwick Brooklyn and Highland Park.
R5 is currently quartered right off the SI EXPWY that gives them extremely easy access to both the south shore and Brooklyn as they cover both. They could be in Brooklyn in a matter of 3 minutes. In my opinion, R5 is fine where they are.
 
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For many years since it's inception R*2 was in close proximity to the BKLYN Navy Yard during it's Military heyday.....in 1985 we moved to 1472 Bergen St. bet Schenectady & Troy Aves.....ENG*248 is in the basic center of BKLYN but back in 1985 the Bergen St FH was in the center of the actual working area (Firewise) of BKLYN & that was the selected site....today it remains not too far away in much more suitable (size wise) FH.
 
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Does the city have the locations for new rescue houses picked yet? I remember seeing a thread a while ago regarding Rescue 1. I believe it stated that the property wouldn't be available for a couple of years. It may have been that long since I saw the thread.
R1 new house is still in the talks and that’s correct it’s not ready until 2025.
 
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