Many FDNY history summaries describe squad origins with the manpower units established during WW1, WW2, the early 1950s and the War Years. These companies responded in converted hose wagons, vans and later with pumpers and performed engine or truck duties to compensate for manpower reductions due to the wars, reduction of work hour schedule (1950s) and the tremendous increase of fires in the War Years.
Some squad-related questions or points:
There do not seem to be any squad-type units established during World War I even though history summaries indicate they existed. Were there any squads organized in the 1917-1920 period?
During WWI and through the 1920?s , FDNY was still expanding into formerly volunteer stations, mostly in Queens . They were also transitioning from horse drawn to motorized apparatus. Many second sections were closed and Queens hose companies became regular engine companies.
There were no FD squads but there were early motorized ?hose type? wagons that had bench seats for about 10 people. These were the original NYPD squads. Some precincts had barracks for ?squads? of officers deployed together to respond rapidly to civil disturbances in large numbers. This is where police ?squad car? or ?squad wagon? originated.
The Fire Patrol also responded with manpower in similar squad wagons. In their turnout gear, patrolios would be indistinguishable from firefighters to the general public.
These may have been the squads in the summaries of that time.
Were the combined engine companies (early FDNY expansion era) and combined fire companies (1970s budget problems) - one company with both engine and ladder apparatus - similar to the squads?
As 3511 said, some engine companies were assigned a ladder as a third rig. (Engine and hose wagon were the other two rigs.) One larger sized crew under one officer operated together.
The 1974-1977 Combination Fire Companie?s were more remotely located engine and ladder companies located in the same house that were staffed by one crew. CFC 121 on City Island was formed from Engine 70 and Ladder 53; CFC 131 in Tottenville was formed from Engine 151 and Ladder 76, and CFC 151 in the Springfield Gardens area was formed from Engine 311 and Ladder 158. All three CFC?s operated an engine and a towerladder.
Were the quads (extended WLF pumper with truck company ladders and tools) companies of the 1950s which were assigned to more rural companies (Queens and SI), another version of squads? Note- both engine companies and ladder companies were assigned quad apparatus.
The designation of apparatus is based on capabilities. There are hose wagons, pumpers (engines), tankers, ladders, and aerials. A unit with a hose bed, pump, and tank is a triple combination. With ground ladders added, it is a quad. With an aerial device, it is a quint. Triples are always engines. Quads were assigned as either engines or ladders. Quints made a few rare appearances in FDNY, but nationwide they tend to be assigned to ladder companies while telesquirts tend to be assigned to engines.
The term ?squad? originates in the military and describes a task unit with 8 to 15 people assigned. In the early 1900?s NYPD, it was a rapid response manpower unit to assist field patrol units when lots of additional people were necessary quickly. Squad apparatus were primarily for manpower transportation with minimal personal tools or other capabilities. This continued through the FDNY squads of the 50?s and 60?s. In the late 60?s and into the 70?s, squads began to operate with pumpers. Note also that in the 80?s, engines with non-functioning pumps were identified as squads by the dispatchers.
Combinations, quads, and CFC?s were not comparable to squads, as used.
Ladder 78 operated as Rescue 5 in the late 1940s to early 1960s. One company with both truck and rescue apparatus and assignments.
Ladder 78 and Rescue 5 was a dual role company with one crew. Unlike the more common dual role engine and ladder combination companies, L78/R5 was dual role ladder and rescue company. As 3511 said, Rescues may respond 1st due where they are closer than any truck company but unlike L78/R5, they do not have a ladder apparatus.
Today?s squads have distinct capabilities as well as providing 1st due engine services. They operate engines with more equipment storage capabilities along with a second haz mat apparatus with additional equipment. In that sense, they are more like combination companies. (Engine & Haz Mat) Note also that all seven squads are in single engine houses.
The deployment of today?s squads is more influenced by where their services are most frequently needed, the availability of adjacent engine companies, and the need to keep certain engine houses open that may have been otherwise targeted for closure, rather than strictly by response time.
See also: http://nycfire.net/forums/index.php/topic,28396.msg95371.html#msg95371
