John T. O'Hagan
Encyclopedia
John T. O'Hagan was appointed the 22nd Fire Commissioner of the City of New York by Mayor John V. Lindsay on October 11, 1973 and served in that position throughout the Administration of Mayor Abraham D. Beame until he was replaced by incoming Mayor Edward I. Koch on January 17, 1978.
in 1947 at the age of 22, and quickly rose up the ranks. Appointed Chief of Department on December 16, 1964 at the age of 39, he was the youngest Fire Chief
in FDNY history.
Chief O'Hagan led the department through some of its most harrowing years, those dominated by the arson that plagued the city in the 1960s and 70s, a time when the city's bankruptcy forced the layoff of hundreds of firefighter
s. He earned a reputation as a brilliant fire officer and a tough manager, despite his initial lack of knowledge of how to work the levers of city government. Even Chief O'Hagan, commanding a leader as he was, could not thwart a 1968 revision of the building code
, drafted in large part by the real estate industry, that he thought thinned the margin of fire safety.
Still, Chief O'Hagan did not give up. He returned in 1973 with safety measures added to the code. But they did not apply to the World Trade Center
, which, being owned by another government agency, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
, was exempt from city codes — and fire inspections
.
On October 11, 1973 at the age of 48, he was appointed Fire Commissioner by Mayor Lindsay. He retained his position as Chief of Department while serving as Fire Commissioner. O'Hagan was the recipient of the inaugural Sloan Public Service Award in 1973. http://www.fcny.org/psap/awards_home.htm
He was the author of High Rise/Fire & Life Safety in 1977 and was an international authority on fire administration and fire safety. He officially retired from the FDNY on July 18, 1978, after 31 years of service.
He died on January 2, 1991 in Brooklyn, New York of cardiopulmonary arrest from cancer.
Biography
O'Hagan joined the New York City Fire DepartmentNew York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
in 1947 at the age of 22, and quickly rose up the ranks. Appointed Chief of Department on December 16, 1964 at the age of 39, he was the youngest Fire Chief
Fire chief
Fire Chief is a top executive rank or commanding officer in a fire department, either elected or appointed...
in FDNY history.
Chief O'Hagan led the department through some of its most harrowing years, those dominated by the arson that plagued the city in the 1960s and 70s, a time when the city's bankruptcy forced the layoff of hundreds of firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s. He earned a reputation as a brilliant fire officer and a tough manager, despite his initial lack of knowledge of how to work the levers of city government. Even Chief O'Hagan, commanding a leader as he was, could not thwart a 1968 revision of the building code
Building code
A building code, or building control, is a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety for constructed objects such as buildings and nonbuilding structures. The main purpose of building codes are to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the...
, drafted in large part by the real estate industry, that he thought thinned the margin of fire safety.
Still, Chief O'Hagan did not give up. He returned in 1973 with safety measures added to the code. But they did not apply to the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
, which, being owned by another government agency, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
, was exempt from city codes — and fire inspections
Fire protection
Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as well as the research and development, production, testing and application of...
.
On October 11, 1973 at the age of 48, he was appointed Fire Commissioner by Mayor Lindsay. He retained his position as Chief of Department while serving as Fire Commissioner. O'Hagan was the recipient of the inaugural Sloan Public Service Award in 1973. http://www.fcny.org/psap/awards_home.htm
He was the author of High Rise/Fire & Life Safety in 1977 and was an international authority on fire administration and fire safety. He officially retired from the FDNY on July 18, 1978, after 31 years of service.
He died on January 2, 1991 in Brooklyn, New York of cardiopulmonary arrest from cancer.
Family
O'Hagan was married to Kaye Tully, had three children (Catherine, Susan and Michael) and ten grandchildren (Clare, Molly, Cecilia, Daniel Micheal, Elizabeth, Emily, John, Maggie,and Joe).Publications
- O'Hagan, John T. (Edited by John F. Shreve under the direction of Donald M. O’Brien), Fire Fighting During Civil Disorders. New York: International Association of Fire Chiefs, 1968. 84 pages. (LCCN 74154094)
- O'Hagan, John T., and Edward H. Blum. Technology Aids Fire Service. New York: Rand Institute, 1972. 31 pages. (LCCN 73170898)
- O'Hagan, John T. High Rise/Fire and Life Safety. New York: Dun-Donnelley Pub. Corp., 1977. 274 pages. (ISBN 0-878149260)