United Nations Bldg

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Al Capone

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Feb 13, 2010
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I spent a weekend with DCFD around 20 years ago. They told me that any fire that occurs at a foreign embassy, that they needed permission from that country before they entered the site. If there's a fire in the UN bldg, is there some kind of protocal before the FDNY enters that bldg? The embassys in DC are considered foreign soil. Is it the same in NewYork?  Thanks
 
Embassies are considered foreign soil anywhere in the world.  No permission, no entry.  As for the UN building itself, FD regularly operates there.
 
For the most part the embassies are considered foreign soil. The Embassy in Riverdale has had fires and we had to wait to be allowed in and then escorted around building to do searches and so on. The UN had a small fire brigade at one time which i think is no longer there. I think it is easier to gain access to UN than the countries embassies.
 
Thanks guys.When they first told me this I was kind of dumbfounded. But now as I think about it, it makes sense. The station I was at was 1st due to the White House. They told me that it was the only call that I wouldnt be allowed to go to. The guards have picture IDs of all the firemen, and I would be shot on site if they had no picture. I dont know if the men were serious or not but I bought it. BTW this was during the 1st gulf war so security was tighter then normal.
 
UN still has it's own Fire Department on site along with Police and hazmat.  There is even an Small Engine parked in the "Firehouse" which is located in the parking garage. The firehouse looks kinda like a firehouse but smaller, has a one bay gear storage, etc.

On a daily basis when FDNY responds, they will goto the main gate and use a radio located there to call the fire command station and see if assistance is needed. 

During the GA FDNY will take over all duites of the UN Fire Department with some UN  personal assigned to assit FDNY.
 
Is the UN building still extempt from the fire code? was not sure if the new one addressed that issue.
 
This not only happens in Manhattan or even the Bronx with foreign , but it happened in Bklyn, right at the Bklyn Navy Yard.

Over 50 years ago when an aircraft carrier was on fire, FDNY units were kept out of the facility. The gates were locked on them. They did open the facility to us, but I do not know how long of a delay it was.  If I remember correctly, they had about 50 DOA's.

Today, we can not still enter the airports unless Port Authority escorts the units. They are government agencies & they have to invite FDNY onto their property. Its the same principle.
 
"Atlas" I remember that. I remember the fire and the many who lost their lives there. But, I wasn't aware that FDNY units were not allowed into the area until an escort. There is a chapter on that fire in the Late Lt Richard Hamilton's Book, "20,000 Alarms". Going back a few years ago, I believe the Fire Boat Keene (?) was kept there. I always wanted to go in and check it out and get a few pictures. Really never tried but, "Guess that wasn't going to happen" !!!!
 
Willy D: Marine 6, the spare boat (Alfred Smith), and the Marine Shops are still based at the Navy Yard.  I saw both of them from the water on Saturday.
 
Today that would not happen because the Navy Yard, most of it, it no longer under military control.

I think Uncle Sam's military only kept a small section of the facility.
 
johnd248 said:
Willy D: Marine 6, the spare boat (Alfred Smith), and the Marine Shops are still based at the Navy Yard.  I saw both of them from the water on Saturday.
Click to expand...

 Thanks John. I wasn't aware of that. Its been awhile since I've been by there. And now the word is out. My "Street Name is; Willy "D". I had to use that when I buffed Bushwick, and the South Bronx during the War Years. That name just kind of fit in.
 
My dad shared two stories regarding FDNY entry onto military bases.  When Floyd Bennett Field was an active base in Brooklyn (1st municipal airport in NYC), FDNY units responded to a box pulled outside the gate.  While they waited for permission to enter, the FDNY battalion chief requested a second and maybe a third alarm.  I believe Floyd Bennett Field had its own FD.  Fire was in 1950s.

When two airliners crashed in 1960 over Staten Island, E165 (still a new company then) was the first FDNY to arrive on scene at Miller Field in New Dorp.  One of the planes crashed there.  E165 did not wait for the MPs to permit entry - they drove right through the fence.  The other plane crashed into Park Slope, Brooklyn. 

Video covers plane crash in Brooklyn as well as USS Constellation fire.  FDNY operations in 1960:
Fire NY: Plane crashes in Park Slope, Brooklyn Naval Yard
 
This a really great video showing operations from the 1960's. We should make sure that these videos are preserved for the "pups" on this site :) ;D
 
Interesting 31 engine companies responded, and only 6 ladder companies?
 
Miller Field in S.I. was an Army base. I do not know if they had their own fire protection because they did have an airfield.  However Bennett had three fire stations on the base.
 
grumpy grizzly said:
This a really great video showing operations from the 1960's. We should make sure that these videos are preserved for the "pups" on this site :) ;D
Click to expand...
 Here's a rundown from almost 50 years ago:  http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6880/box1231bklyn.jpg                                                                                                                          In addition to the 5th Alarm there was a Simultaneous Call, 2nd Alarm response from Mahattan Box 174 @Bowery & Canal St. bringing: Engines: 9, 55, 31 on the 1st alarm and Engines: 17, 15, 7, 27 on the 2nd. The Chief of Dept. also requested the Socony Foam Unit.
 
  I don't have an assignment card or rundown for the Constellation fire but it was Box 308 @Kent & Clymer. Response in 1960 should've been E211, E221, E216 or 209, L119 & L104. There were a few companies that responded to the plane crash then 3 days later to the Constellation fire, they were: Engines: 7, 9, 15, 17, 31, 55, 207, 210, 219, 235, Ladder 102, Batt.31 and Rescues 1, 2 & 4.
 
Concerning Floyd Bennett Field, it was technically Naval Air Station N.Y. The Navy Fire Department was run by a civilian chief, and had both military and civilian firefighters. Across the field from the Navy side was a N.Y. Air National Guard unit (106th Air Transport Wing) which also had a crash,fire rescue department, of which I was a member.
 
guitarman314 said:
grumpy grizzly said:
This a really great video showing operations from the 1960's. We should make sure that these videos are preserved for the "pups" on this site :) ;D
Click to expand...
 Here's a rundown from almost 50 years ago:  http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6880/box1231bklyn.jpg                                                                                                                          In addition to the 5th Alarm there was a Simultaneous Call, 2nd Alarm response from Mahattan Box 174 @Bowery & Canal St. bringing: Engines: 9, 55, 31 on the 1st alarm and Engines: 17, 15, 7, 27 on the 2nd. The Chief of Dept. also requested the Socony Foam Unit.
Click to expand...

what is the socony foam unit???
 
Standard Oil Company of New York = SOCONY;  Later SOCONY Vacuum, later SOCONY Mobil, later ExxonMobil.  Probably a foam unit from a NY area petroleum storage facility (or perhaps one of the refineries in NJ).
 
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