New York City Fire Department
Encyclopedia
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) 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 to biological, chemical and radioactive hazards. The department has its headquarters in 9 MetroTech Center, Downtown
Brooklyn
, and its training academy (The FDNY Fire Academy) on Randall's Island
.
The FDNY, the largest municipal fire department
in the United States, and the second largest in the world after the Tokyo Fire Department
, has approximately 11,080 uniformed officers and firefighters and over 3,300 uniformed EMTs
and paramedic
s. It faces an extraordinarily varied challenge. In addition to responding to building types that range from wood-frame single family homes to high-rise structures, there are the many bridges and tunnels, large parks and wooded areas that can give rise to major brush fires, and one of the largest subway systems
in the world. These challenges add yet another level of firefighting complexity and have led to the creation of the motto for FDNY firefighters of New York’s Bravest.
Like most fire departments in the United States, the New York City Fire Department is organized in a paramilitary fashion. The department's executive staff is divided into two areas including a civilian fire commissioner
who is in charge of the department and a fire chief who is the operational lead. The current fire commissioner is (former fire chief) Salvatore Cassano
, who took over from Nicholas Scoppetta
at the start of 2010. The executive staff includes the civilian fire commissioners who are responsible for bureaus within the Department, along with the Chief of Department, Chief of Fire Operations, Chief of EMS, the Chief Fire Marshal and the staff chiefs. Staff chiefs include the seven citywide tour commanders, the Chief of Safety, the Chief of Fire Prevention, and the Chief of Training.
Operationally and geographically, the department are nominally organized into five borough commands for the five traditional boroughs of New York. Within those Borough Commands exist nine divisions, each headed by a Deputy Chief. Within each division operate four to seven battalions, led by a Battalion Chief and typically consisting of 180–200 firefighters and officers. Each battalion consists of four to eight companies, with a company being led by a Captain. He commands three Lieutenants and 16–42 Firefighters. Last is the unit consisting of the members of the company on call during a given tour, consisting of a Lieutenant or a Captain plus a number of Firefighters depending on the type of unit: 3–4 Firefighters on an engine company, 5 on a ladder company, (also known as a truck company), 5 for a rescue company, 5 for a squad company, 4 for a marine company, and 6 for the hazardous materials company.
of New Amsterdam
. Hooks, ladders and buckets were financed through the collection of fines for dirty chimneys and a fire watch was established consisting of eight wardens which were drawn from the male population. An organization known as the prowlers but given the nickname the rattle watch patrolled the streets with buckets, ladders and hooks from nine in the evening until dawn looking for fires. Leather shoe buckets, 250 in all, were manufactured by local Dutch shoemakers in 1658, and these bucket brigades are regarded as the beginning of the New York Fire Department.
In 1664 New Amsterdam became a British settlement
and was renamed New York
. The first New York fire brigade entered service in 1731 equipped with two hand-drawn pumpers which had been transported from London, England. These two pumpers formed Engine Company 1 and Engine Company 2. These were the first fire engines
to be used in the American colonies, and all able-bodied citizens were required to respond to a fire alarm and to participate in the extinguishing under the supervision of the Aldermen
.
The city's first firehouse was built in 1736 in front of City Hall on Broad Street
. A year later, on December 16, 1737, the colony's General Assembly created the Volunteer Fire Department of the City of New York, appointing 30 men who would remain on call in exchange for exemption from jury and militia duty. The city's first official firemen were required to be "able, discreet, and sober men who shall be known as Firemen of the City of New York, to be ready for service by night and by day and be diligent, industrious and vigilant."
Although the 1737 Act created the basis of the fire department, the actual legal entity was incorporated in the State of New York on March 20, 1798 under the name of "Fire Department, City of New York."
The change met with a mixed reaction from the citizens, and some of the eliminated volunteers became bitter and resentful which resulted in both political battles and street fights. But the insurance companies in the city finally got their way by having the volunteers replaced with paid "professionals." The members of the paid fire department were mostly selected from the prior volunteers. All of the volunteer's apparatus, including their fire houses, were seized by the state who made use of them to form the new organization and form the basis of the FDNY as we know it today.
The MFD lasted until 1870 when the Tweed Charter ended state control in the city. As a result, a new Board of Fire Commissioners was created and the original name of the Fire Department City of New York (FDNY) was re-instated.
Initially, the paid fire service only covered New York City (present day Manhattan
), until the act of 1865 which united Brooklyn
with New York to form the Metropolitan District. The same year the fire department consisted of 13 Chief Officers and 552 Company Officers and firemen. The officers and firemen worked a continuous tour of duty, with 3 hours a day off for meals and one day off a month, and were paid salaries according to their rank or grade. 1865 also saw the first adoption of regulations, although they were fairly strict and straitlaced.
Following several large fires in 1866 which resulted in excessive fire losses and a rise in insurance rates, the fire department was reorganized under the command of General Alexander Shaler
, and with military discipline the paid department reached its full potential which resulted in a general reduction in fire losses. In 1870 the merit system
of promotion in the Fire Department was established.
Southwestern Westchester County (which would later become the western Bronx) was annexed by New York in 1874 and the volunteers there were phased out and replaced by the paid department. This pattern was repeated as City services expanded elsewhere. There are nine volunteer fire companies left in New York City that respond to calls in their neighborhood in addition to a normal assignment of FDNY units. They are typically in more isolated neighborhoods of the city. By borough, the volunteer companies are:
The Staten Island volunteer companies are dispatched by the Staten Island Communications Office and operate on the FDNY Staten Island frequency. Broad Channel and West Hamilton Beach have teleprinters in parallel with the FDNY fire companies that also serve their area. The Brooklyn and first four volunteer companies in Queens also provide ambulance services. Broad Channel VFD has over 102 years of active service.
) became a part of the City of New York, but the volunteer units there remained in place until they were gradually replaced by paid units in 1915, 1928, 1932 and 1937 when only two volunteer units remained.
The unification of the Fire Department, which took place in 1898, would pave the way for many changes. In 1909 the Fire Department received its first piece of motorized fire apparatus
. On March 25, 1911 a fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company
killed 146 workers, most of whom where young female immigrants. Later the same year the fire college was formed to train new fire fighters, and in 1912 the Bureau of Fire Prevention was created.
In 1919 the Uniformed Firefighters Association
was formed. Tower ladders and the Superpumper System were introduced in 1965. Major apparatus of the Superpumper System (the Superpumper and the Supertender) was phased out in 1982, in favor of the Maxi-Water Unit. But the 5 Satellite Units of the system, together with the Maxi-Water Unit (known as Satellite 6 since 1999) are still actively used as of 2007 for multiple alarm fires and certain other incidents. These are now called the Satellite Water System. Other technical advances included the introduction of high pressure water systems, the creation of a Marine fleet, adoption of vastly improved working conditions and the utilization of improved radio communications.
On November 23, 1965, incoming Mayor Lindsay announced the appointment of Robert O. Lowery
as Fire Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department. His was the first commissioner level appointment announced by the Mayor-elect. Lowery, who was the first African American to serve as a Fire Commissioner of a major U.S. city, served in that position for more than 7 years until his resignation on September 29, 1973 in order to campaign for then-Controller Abraham D. Beame, the Democratic candidate for Mayor. In 1982 the first female firefighters joined the ranks of the Fire Department.
In 1984 and 1989, the comedy films Ghostbusters
and Ghostbusters II
used the Manhattan Ladder Company 8 building for the externals of the Ghostbusters' office building. On March 17, 1996, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani merged the emergency medical services of the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation into the FDNY.
On September 11, 2001 terrorists associated with al-Qaeda
hijacked four commercial passenger aircraft to be used to attack targets in New York and Washington, DC, in what came to be known as the September 11, 2001 attacks
or 9/11. Two aircraft, American Airlines Flight 11
and United Airlines Flight 175
, were flown by terrorists into the twin towers of the World Trade Center
, causing massive damage and starting fires that eventually caused the weakened 110-story skyscrapers to collapse.
New York City fire companies and EMS crews were deployed to the World Trade Center minutes after the first aircraft struck the north tower. Chief officers set up a command center in the lobby as first arriving units entered the building and firefighters began climbing the stairs. A mobile command center was also set up outside on Vesey Street, but was destroyed when the buildings collapsed. A command post was then set up at a firehouse in Greenwich Village
. The FDNY deployed 200 units to the site, with more than 400 firefighters, EMTs and paramedics on the scene when the buildings collapsed.
Many firefighters arrived at the World Trade Center without meeting at the command centers. Problems with radio communication caused commanders to lose contact with many of the firefighters who went into the buildings; those firefighters were unable to hear evacuation orders. There was practically no communication with the New York City Police Department, which had helicopters at the scene. When the towers collapsed, hundreds were killed or trapped within. 343 FDNY firefighters and paramedics who responded to the attacks lost their lives. The casualties included First Deputy Commissioner William M. Feehan
, Chief of Department Peter Ganci Department Chaplain Mychal Judge, and Battalion Chief Orio Palmer
.
Meanwhile, average response times to fires elsewhere in the city that day only rose by one minute, to 5.5 minutes. Many of the surviving firefighters continued to work alternating 24-hour shifts as part of the Rescue and recovery effort after the September 11, 2001 attacks
. Firefighters and EMS personnel came from hundreds of miles around New York City, including numerous career and volunteer units in Upstate New York, Long Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida and even Michigan.
In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks the Fire Department has rebuilt itself and continues to serve the people of New York. During the Northeast Blackout of 2003
, FDNY was called on to rescue hundreds of people from stranded elevators in approximately 800 Manhattan high-rise office and apartment buildings. The entire fire department was held over from the day tour to almost double the total force to 3,401 firefighters to handle the many fires which resulted, reportedly from people using candles for light.
At the beginning of the 21st century, there are 11,400 uniformed fire officers and firefighters under the command of the Chief of Department. The New York City Fire Department also includes 2800 Emergency Medical Technician
s, Paramedic
s and Supervisor
s assigned to Department's EMS Command, and 1200 civilian employees.
Salvatore Cassano is the current commissioner of the FDNY. He received this job from Mayor Michael Bloomberg (January 1, 2010). Mr. Cassano is the 34th FDNY Commissioner.
There were 2,971 serious fires in 2006, defined as those declared 'all hands' or above in severity. Response times to incidents were roughly between two and a half, to six minutes from the time of call, depending on total activity and borough, with the quickest responses being in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the slowest in Queens and Staten Island.
There were 3,143 serious fires in 2007, defined as those declared 'all hands' or above in severity.
There were 2,715 serious fires in 2008, defined as those declared 'all hands' or above in severity. Response times to incidents were roughly between four to five minutes from the time of call, depending on total activity and borough, with the quickest responses being in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the slowest in Queens and Staten Island.
There were 2,485 serious fires in 2009, defined as those declared 'all hands' or above in severity.
Unit Activity CY 2009
Top Five Engine Companies
Top Five Ladder Companies
Top Five Battalions
Top Five EMS Units
There were 2,708 serious fires in 2010, defined as those declared 'all hands' or above in severity.
Unit Activity CY 2010
Top Five Engine Companies
Top Five Ladder Companies
Top Five Battalions
Top Five EMS Units
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/vital_stats_2008_final.pdf
As of 2010 there are three Bureau of Fire Communications alarm offices. One office, at 11 Metrotech Center in Brooklyn, houses Manhattan/Citywide, Brooklyn, and Staten Island Fire Communications. The Bronx and Queens offices are in separate offices, and plans are in the works to consolidate them into an office to be built in the future.
The initial call to an FDNY communications office is taken by the Alarm Receipt Dispatcher (ARD) who speaks with the caller in order to determine the nature of the emergency. The ARD enters the information by keyboard into the Starfire computer system, which gives a recommended response based on the information provided. This information is automatically sent to the Decision Dispatcher (DD)and the "Tour Supervising Dispatcher".
When the Decision Dispatcher has made a decision as to what units will actually be assigned to the incident, unless the supervisor intervenes, he or she pushes the "release" button and the alarm is routed to the assigned companies, either in their firehouses or to the mobile data terminals (MDT) if their apparatus is in the field, depending on where the Starfire computer shows them to be situated. If a unit in a fire station does not acknowledge the run within 30 seconds, the computer will notify the voice alarm dispatcher who will call that unit in the station by the dedicated intercom system. One minute after the alarm is released, it will appear on the computer screen of the radio dispatcher, who will announce the alarm and the response two times and ask for acknowledgment from any units assigned who have not done so by radio, voice alarm or MDT. The radio dispatcher has a special keyboard called the Status Entry Panel "SEP" which he uses to update the status of units based on information he receives by radio.
The entire process from initial notification until a unit is dispatched can take up to two (2) minutes, depending on the complexity of the call, the information provided by the caller(s) and the degree of other alarm activity in the office. If a borough alarm office is so busy that its incoming telephone alarm lines are all busy or not answered within 30 seconds, the call is automatically transferred to another borough fire alarm office. If an ERS box is not answered with 60 seconds, usually because all of the Alarm receipt Consoles are in use, the computer automatically dispatches an engine company to the box location.
Any fire alarm office in NYC can take a fire or emergency call by telephone for any borough and upon completion of information taking, the incident will automatically be routed by the Starfire computer to the Decision Dispatcher (DD) for the borough in which the incident is reported.
When a member of the public dials "9-1-1," he or she is connected to an N.Y.P.D. operator who assigns the call to where it needs to go based on the information provided.
Fire alarm dispatchers handle comparatively few medical calls made directly to them, since the vast majority of such incidents are routed straight to the F.D.N.Y.'s E.M.S. communications office by the N.Y.P.D. 9-1-1 operators. However, a medical call that requires the assistance of "first-responder"-trained fire unit[s] will have said request routed electronically to the appropriate fire alarm central office for the assignment of the proper personnel and apparatus.
This information is printed on the fire ticket and can be read by the dispatcher if requested. This information is also read automatically when a signal 10–75 (working fire) or higher signal is given or when the supervising dispatcher deems it is important for the units to have it before arrival at an incident.
Radio Bell Code Signals
10-Code Signals
Click on the link to view the 52 10-Codes used by the FDNY: 10-Codes.
A Signal 10–75 is transmitted by the first arriving fire company for a working fire or other incident where it appears that the assigned companies will likely all be put to work at a fire or other emergency. Contrary to common belief, a 10–75 can be transmitted where the emergency is non-fire related but appears to require a full first alarm assignment. When a 10–75 is given, a Rescue Company and a Squad Company are automatically assigned, unless they have already been assigned on the box. In addition, a third and fourth engine company as well as a second truck company and a F.A.S.T. truck (ladder company) are assigned, along with an additional battalion chief. Notification is made to the deputy (division) chief for the district, and he almost always asks for a fire ticket and starts his response.
When all companies are put to work at an incident, the Signal 7-5 is transmitted over the Starfire computer system, but on the radio the listener will simply hear the terms "All Hands" or "All Companies at Work (or Working)." If the "All Hands" is in a subway or railroad facility, or any other location where communications might be difficult, a Field Communications Unit is sent. A Deputy Chief is mandatorily assigned on transmission of the Signal 7-5, but he almost always has responded on the 10–75 signal.
Special calls for additional units above a Signal 7-5 are by number and type of unit. A Dispatcher's greater alarm, formerly used to fill out special call requests during busy periods of fire activity, has been eliminated from dispatch procedures.
Higher alarms bring additional ladders, engines and special equipment, depending on location and type of incident. Greater alarms are a Second (Signal 2-2), a Third (3–3), a Fourth (4–4), and a Fifth (5–5). Technically there are no alarms greater than a Fifth Alarm and no computer signals exist for them. If a chief asks for a sixth or higher alarm, it has to be written out as such in the computer and companies are assigned by the Supervising Dispatcher of the Tour. Borough calls and simultaneous calls, previously used for incidents that required more than a five alarm assignment, have been eliminated from dispatch procedures.
There are also certain special signals given for unique incidents. Several of them include:
Any or all of these signals: 10–76, 10–77, 10–60, 10–66 and 10–80, can be used in conjunction with a 10–75, a 7–5("All Hands") or a greater alarm, depending on circumstances. For example, at the aforementioned Deutsche Bank Building Fatal Fire in 2007, seven alarms were struck in addition to the use of the 10–76, 10–66 and 10–80 signals. The 2007 Manhattan Steampipe explosion utilized six alarms, plus the 10–60 and 10–80 signals. If a 10–66 is transmitted as the result of a collapse, a 10–60 must also be transmitted; this will result in the next 2 higher alarms being transmitted, (1 addtl alarm for each signal).
(EMS) in New York City are dispatched by the New York City Fire Department's Emergency Medical Dispatch under its Communications Bureau.
Ambulances are staffed by uniformed service EMTs and paramedics of the FDNY or civilian EMTs and paramedics working for non-profit, 'voluntary' hospitals. It is the largest public, non-profit ambulance partnership in the world.
Prior to March 17, 1996, municipal ambulances were operated by NYC EMS under the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation
a public benefit corporation, which dispatched both its own ambulances and hospital ambulances. After that date, NYC EMS was merged with the FDNY and became the Bureau of EMS. it is referred to as the FDNY-EMS Command and is an operational unit of the FDNY which operates under the Chief of EMS, who in turn reports to the Chief of Department.
FDNY-EMS respond to more than 1.2 million medical emergencies per year, or 3300 per day. Although EMS in New York City is controlled and dispatched by the Fire Department, approximately 30% of the ambulances in the system are operated by the non-profit hospitals in New York City, the majority of these being in Manhattan and Queens. These hospitals have historically provided emergency ambulances for over 125 years, with some now subcontracting actual ambulance operations to private ambulance providers. New York City also has a number of neighborhood volunteer ambulance corps that respond to emergency calls, primarily in the outer boroughs.
The New York City prehospital care system consists of three distinct levels: First responder engine companies, staffed by firefighters trained as certified first responder
s (CFRs) providing first aid
, CPR, and defibrillation
; basic life support (BLS) ambulances, whose two EMTs provide first aid, defibrillation, and limited medication administration; and advanced life support (ALS) ambulances, whose two paramedics provide prehospital critical care, including patient assessment, 12-lead electrocardiography, pulse oximetry, defibrillation, cardioversion, cardiac pacing, endotracheal intubation and other advanced airway procedures; intravenous (IV), interosseous (IO), intramuscular (IM), oral (PO) and respiratory therapy, with over 40 medications both under standing medical orders and in consultation with a medical control physician. Each area of response is divided into overlapping grids, with the closest FDNY first responder engine company dispatched to life-threatening emergencies, along with both a BLS and ALS level ambulance as necessary.
Some EMTs and paramedics have been trained as Hazardous Materials Technicians and function to provide patient care while wearing Chemical Protective Clothing in the 'Hot Zone' at HazMat incidents. Recently, all of FDNY-EMS's EMTs and paramedics have been trained to the Hazardous Materials Operations level in order to operate in the 'Warm Zone' of HazMat incidents. Some of the HazMat trained paramedics have been trained at the FDNY Fire Academy as 'Rescue Medics' in order to be able to provide patient care in both high-rise rescue and confined space situations.
While EMTs and paramedics work well professionally with the firefighters of New York City, there have been occasional "culture clashes" between EMS and Fire, for instance, a plan in 2006 to move ambulances into a firehouse in Queens drew an outcry from both the unions of the firefighters and EMS workers and was ultimately scrapped by the city. This is due to several factors, the relative little attention paid to the sacrifices and achievements of EMS workers by the public in relation to that paid to firefighters, as well as the separate mindset that each respective job entails; firefighters must operate as a team and strictly and swiftly execute the orders they are given by their officers to achieve their goals, while EMT and paramedic crews are expected to act independently and usually without direct supervision by their EMT and paramedic officers or medical control physicians, in most cases, due to the nature of the job.
In recent years, FDNY has used several fire apparatus
manufacturers nearly exclusively. Beginning in the late 1970s, Mack
and American LaFrance
made most of the pumpers and ladder trucks in the FDNY fleet. In the late 1980s, Mack made only chassis and not apparatus bodies, so Ward
was used for truck bodies. Often Mack would work with Baker Aerialscope to create its tower ladders. Mack left the fire apparatus business in the early 1990s and FDNY turned to Seagrave
to develop its next generation of fire truck. FDNY's very specific specifications meant that few apparatus manufacturers could compete with Seagrave for the contract.
Most of the engines in FDNY's fleet are Seagrave Commander II's and Seagrave Marauder II's and include 500 gallon water tanks and either 1000 or 2000 gallon per minute pumps. The 2000gpm pumps are primarily located in the high-rise districts and are considered high pressure pumpers. With the loss of apparatus which occurred as a result of the September 11 attacks
, FDNY began to use engines made by other companies including Ferrara
and E-One
. The FDNY is making the move from a fixed cab to a "Split-Tilt" cab, so the Seagrave Marauder II Pumper will fill the FDNY's new order for 69 new pumpers.
Truck companies are generally equipped with Seagrave aerials. Ladder length varies and often depends on the geographic area to which the unit is assigned. Those in the older sections of the city often use tiller trucks to allow for greater maneuverability. Before Seagrave was the predominant builder, Mack CF's built with Baker tower ladders were popular. Most FDNY aerials are built with 75’, 95' or 100' ladders. Tiller ladders, rear mount ladders and mid-mount tower ladders are the types of trucks used. In 2010, a new contract was issued for 10–100' rear-mount ladder trucks to Ferrara Fire Apparatus, using a chassis and stainless steel cab custom-designed to FDNY specifications. Delivery of the first of these new trucks is anticipated in the 1st quarter of 2011.
, often called a 'toolbox on wheels' are made by Pierce
(Rescue 1
) and E-One
/Saulsbury (Rescues 2–5). In 2010, a new contract was issued for 5 new rescue trucks to Ferrara Fire Apparatus, using a chassis and stainless steel cab custom-designed to FDNY specifications. Delivery of the first of these new trucks is anticipated in the 1st quarter of 2011. Other specialty units, including hazardous material units, collapse trucks, and reserve rescues are made by American LaFrance, Pierce, E-One,Freightliner,and Ferrara (HAZMAT 1). Various body types include standard heavy rescue bodies, step vans, busses and smaller units built on GMC and Ford pick up truck bodies.
FDNY battalion and division chiefs as well as EMS supervisors operate with Ford Excursion
s which are soon to start being replaced by GMC pick-up trucks with caps and roll out trays in the bed. EMS division chiefs use Crown Victorias.
The ambulances used by FDNY EMS are usually manufactured by Horton Ambulance, and the modules are generally mounted on Ford F-350 light duty truck chassis. When NYC EMS merged with the FDNY in 1996, the ambulances had their orange stripe replaced with a red, and they were manufactured by Wheeled Coach, again on Ford F-350 chassis. Some of the older ambulances were built by Southern Ambulance Builders, and mounted on Chevrolet 3500 chassis
s as Marine Companies:
A former FDNY Marine Unit, the John J. Harvey
, is notable as having returned to active service as Marine 2 on September 11, 2001 and providing firefighting services for 80 hours following the attack.
In 2010, the newly built fireboat Three Forty Three
replaced the John D. McKean, which entered service in 1954, as Marine 1. A twin vessel, Firefighter II, replaced Fire Fighter, dedicated in 1938, as Marine 9.
(UFOA), while regular firefighters and fire marshals are represented by the Uniformed Firefighters Association
(UFA), both of which are locals of the International Association of Fire Fighters
. Fire Alarm Dispatchers are represented by the Fire Alarm Dispatchers Benevolent Association. EMTs, paramedics and fire protection inspectors are represented by the Uniformed EMTs & Paramedics and EMS officers are represented by the Uniform EMS Officers Union, both of which are locals of District Council 37
.
, for BBC
Television. It was screened in the United Kingdom on September 27, 1972 and followed firefighters from a fire house in the South Bronx
: Battalion 27, Ladder 31 and Engine 82. It chronicled the appalling conditions the firefighters worked in with roughly one emergency call per hour, and the high rates of arson and malicious calls.
The documentary focused heavily on firefighter Dennis Smith
who served in the South Bronx area and went on to write Report from Engine Co. 82 and a number of other books. He has become a prominent speaker on firefighting policy.
In 1991, brothers Brian Hickey, a New York City firefighter and his brother Raymond produced a documentary entitled Firefighters: Brothers in Battle. The film features footage of fires and rescues throughout the five boroughs of New York City, including the infamous Happy Land Social Club
fire which killed 87 persons, dramatic rescues from a crashed airplane off of La Guardia Airport, and footage and interviews at Medal Day 1991. Unfortunately, Raymond died of cancer in 1993 and Brian was killed on September 11, 2001 while operating at the World Trade Center. Brian last served as Captain of Rescue Company 4 in Queens.
The 2002 documentary film 9/11
features the September 11, 2001 attacks from the perspective of two amateur film makers and the members of first responders, Engine 7/Ladder 1 and Battalion 1 on Duane street in Lower Manhattan. Two other documentaries include the 2005 film Brotherhood: Life in the FDNY, which focuses on Squad 252 in Brooklyn, Rescue 1
in Manhattan and Rescue 4 in Queens.
Television series about FDNY have included Rescue Me
, which began airing in 2004 and depicts the fictional life of firefighters in an FDNY firehouse. The NBC drama Third Watch
ran from 1999 to 2005 and provided a fictionalized and dramatized depiction of the firefighters and paramedics of the FDNY and police officers of the New York City Police Department
.
Other websites
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
from fires and fire hazards
Fire fighting
Firefighting is the act of extinguishing fires. A firefighter fights fires to prevent loss of life, and/or destruction of property and the environment...
, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response to biological, chemical and radioactive hazards. The department has its headquarters in 9 MetroTech Center, Downtown
Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn is the third largest central business district in New York City , and is located in the northwestern section of the borough of Brooklyn...
Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, and its training academy (The FDNY Fire Academy) on Randall's Island
Randall's Island
Randall's Island is situated in the East River in New York City, part of the borough of Manhattan. It is separated from Manhattan island on the west by the river's main channel, from Queens on the east by the Hell Gate, and from the Bronx on the north by the Bronx Kill. It is joined to Wards...
.
The FDNY, the largest municipal fire department
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
in the United States, and the second largest in the world after the Tokyo Fire Department
Tokyo Fire Department
The is a fire department headquartered in Ōtemachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The TFD was formed on March 7, 1948 and is responsible for protecting the Tokyo Metropolis Area. The Fire Department is the largest urban fire department in the world. Providing services to the 23 Wards of Tokyo and parts...
, has approximately 11,080 uniformed officers and firefighters and over 3,300 uniformed EMTs
Emergency medical technician
Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
and paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
s. It faces an extraordinarily varied challenge. In addition to responding to building types that range from wood-frame single family homes to high-rise structures, there are the many bridges and tunnels, large parks and wooded areas that can give rise to major brush fires, and one of the largest subway systems
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
in the world. These challenges add yet another level of firefighting complexity and have led to the creation of the motto for FDNY firefighters of New York’s Bravest.
Organization
FDNY Commissioner
The New York City Fire Commissioner is the civilian administrator of the New York City Fire Department , appointed by the Mayor of the City of New York. There have been 32 commissioners since Manhattan and the Bronx consolidated with Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island to form The City of New York...
who is in charge of the department and a fire chief who is the operational lead. The current fire commissioner is (former fire chief) Salvatore Cassano
Salvatore Cassano
Salvatore Joseph "Sal" Cassano is the New York City Fire Commissioner. His appointment by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to succeed Nicholas Scoppetta was announced on 21 December 2009 and became effective on 1 January 2010...
, who took over from Nicholas Scoppetta
Nicholas Scoppetta
Nicholas Scoppetta served as the 31st Fire Commissioner of the City of New York. He was appointed to that position by Mayor Michael R...
at the start of 2010. The executive staff includes the civilian fire commissioners who are responsible for bureaus within the Department, along with the Chief of Department, Chief of Fire Operations, Chief of EMS, the Chief Fire Marshal and the staff chiefs. Staff chiefs include the seven citywide tour commanders, the Chief of Safety, the Chief of Fire Prevention, and the Chief of Training.
Operationally and geographically, the department are nominally organized into five borough commands for the five traditional boroughs of New York. Within those Borough Commands exist nine divisions, each headed by a Deputy Chief. Within each division operate four to seven battalions, led by a Battalion Chief and typically consisting of 180–200 firefighters and officers. Each battalion consists of four to eight companies, with a company being led by a Captain. He commands three Lieutenants and 16–42 Firefighters. Last is the unit consisting of the members of the company on call during a given tour, consisting of a Lieutenant or a Captain plus a number of Firefighters depending on the type of unit: 3–4 Firefighters on an engine company, 5 on a ladder company, (also known as a truck company), 5 for a rescue company, 5 for a squad company, 4 for a marine company, and 6 for the hazardous materials company.
1648–1865
The origins of the New York City Fire Department trace back to 1648 when the first fire ordinance was adopted in what then was the Dutch settlementDutch Empire
The Dutch Empire consisted of the overseas territories controlled by the Dutch Republic and later, the modern Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century. The Dutch followed Portugal and Spain in establishing an overseas colonial empire, but based on military conquest of already-existing...
of New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
. Hooks, ladders and buckets were financed through the collection of fines for dirty chimneys and a fire watch was established consisting of eight wardens which were drawn from the male population. An organization known as the prowlers but given the nickname the rattle watch patrolled the streets with buckets, ladders and hooks from nine in the evening until dawn looking for fires. Leather shoe buckets, 250 in all, were manufactured by local Dutch shoemakers in 1658, and these bucket brigades are regarded as the beginning of the New York Fire Department.
In 1664 New Amsterdam became a British settlement
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
and was renamed New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
. The first New York fire brigade entered service in 1731 equipped with two hand-drawn pumpers which had been transported from London, England. These two pumpers formed Engine Company 1 and Engine Company 2. These were the first fire engines
Fire apparatus
A fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
to be used in the American colonies, and all able-bodied citizens were required to respond to a fire alarm and to participate in the extinguishing under the supervision of the Aldermen
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
.
The city's first firehouse was built in 1736 in front of City Hall on Broad Street
Broad Street (Manhattan)
Broad Street is located in the Financial District in the New York City borough of Manhattan, stretching from South Street to Wall Street.- History :...
. A year later, on December 16, 1737, the colony's General Assembly created the Volunteer Fire Department of the City of New York, appointing 30 men who would remain on call in exchange for exemption from jury and militia duty. The city's first official firemen were required to be "able, discreet, and sober men who shall be known as Firemen of the City of New York, to be ready for service by night and by day and be diligent, industrious and vigilant."
Although the 1737 Act created the basis of the fire department, the actual legal entity was incorporated in the State of New York on March 20, 1798 under the name of "Fire Department, City of New York."
1865–1898
In 1865 the volunteer fire department was abolished by a state act which was passed to create the Metropolitan Fire District and the Metropolitan Fire Department (MFD). This effectively gave control of the fire departments in the cities of New York and Brooklyn to the Governor who appointed its Board of Commissioners. There was never any effective incorporation of the fire departments of the two cities during this period. It wasn't until the Greater City of New York was consolidated in 1898 that the two were combined under one structure and leadership.The change met with a mixed reaction from the citizens, and some of the eliminated volunteers became bitter and resentful which resulted in both political battles and street fights. But the insurance companies in the city finally got their way by having the volunteers replaced with paid "professionals." The members of the paid fire department were mostly selected from the prior volunteers. All of the volunteer's apparatus, including their fire houses, were seized by the state who made use of them to form the new organization and form the basis of the FDNY as we know it today.
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
), until the act of 1865 which united Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
with New York to form the Metropolitan District. The same year the fire department consisted of 13 Chief Officers and 552 Company Officers and firemen. The officers and firemen worked a continuous tour of duty, with 3 hours a day off for meals and one day off a month, and were paid salaries according to their rank or grade. 1865 also saw the first adoption of regulations, although they were fairly strict and straitlaced.
Following several large fires in 1866 which resulted in excessive fire losses and a rise in insurance rates, the fire department was reorganized under the command of General Alexander Shaler
Alexander Shaler
Alexander Shaler was a Union Army general in the American Civil War. He received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Second Battle of Fredericksburg...
, and with military discipline the paid department reached its full potential which resulted in a general reduction in fire losses. In 1870 the merit system
Merit system
The merit system is the process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections. It is the opposite of the spoils system.- History :...
of promotion in the Fire Department was established.
Southwestern Westchester County (which would later become the western Bronx) was annexed by New York in 1874 and the volunteers there were phased out and replaced by the paid department. This pattern was repeated as City services expanded elsewhere. There are nine volunteer fire companies left in New York City that respond to calls in their neighborhood in addition to a normal assignment of FDNY units. They are typically in more isolated neighborhoods of the city. By borough, the volunteer companies are:
- Bronx (1) – Edgewater Park Volunteer Hose Company No. 1
- Brooklyn (1) – Gerritsen Beach Fire Volunteers Inc.
- Queens (5) – West Hamilton Beach VFD, Broad Channel VFD, Roxbury VFD, Rockaway Point VFD, and Point Breeze VFD
- Staten Island (2) – Oceanic H&L Company No. 1 and Richmond Engine Company No. 1
The Staten Island volunteer companies are dispatched by the Staten Island Communications Office and operate on the FDNY Staten Island frequency. Broad Channel and West Hamilton Beach have teleprinters in parallel with the FDNY fire companies that also serve their area. The Brooklyn and first four volunteer companies in Queens also provide ambulance services. Broad Channel VFD has over 102 years of active service.
1898–2001
On January 1, 1898 the different areas of New York were consolidated, which ushered the Fire Department into a new era. All the fire forces in the various sections were brought under the unified command of the first Commissioner in the history of the Fire Department. This same year Richmond (now Staten IslandStaten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
) became a part of the City of New York, but the volunteer units there remained in place until they were gradually replaced by paid units in 1915, 1928, 1932 and 1937 when only two volunteer units remained.
Fire apparatus
A fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
. On March 25, 1911 a fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City on March 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city of New York and resulted in the fourth highest loss of life from an industrial accident in U.S. history...
killed 146 workers, most of whom where young female immigrants. Later the same year the fire college was formed to train new fire fighters, and in 1912 the Bureau of Fire Prevention was created.
In 1919 the Uniformed Firefighters Association
Uniformed Firefighters Association
The Uniformed Firefighters Association is the main union of firefighters in the Fire Department of New York .Its president is Stephen J. Cassidy, a vocal critic of mayor Rudy Giuliani's decisions during the Rescue and recovery effort after the September 11, 2001 attacks.The union has made several...
was formed. Tower ladders and the Superpumper System were introduced in 1965. Major apparatus of the Superpumper System (the Superpumper and the Supertender) was phased out in 1982, in favor of the Maxi-Water Unit. But the 5 Satellite Units of the system, together with the Maxi-Water Unit (known as Satellite 6 since 1999) are still actively used as of 2007 for multiple alarm fires and certain other incidents. These are now called the Satellite Water System. Other technical advances included the introduction of high pressure water systems, the creation of a Marine fleet, adoption of vastly improved working conditions and the utilization of improved radio communications.
On November 23, 1965, incoming Mayor Lindsay announced the appointment of Robert O. Lowery
Robert O. Lowery
Robert Oliver Lowery was sworn in as the 21st Fire Commissioner of the City of New York by Mayor John V. Lindsay on January 1, 1966 and served in that position until his resignation on September 29, 1973.-Biography:...
as Fire Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department. His was the first commissioner level appointment announced by the Mayor-elect. Lowery, who was the first African American to serve as a Fire Commissioner of a major U.S. city, served in that position for more than 7 years until his resignation on September 29, 1973 in order to campaign for then-Controller Abraham D. Beame, the Democratic candidate for Mayor. In 1982 the first female firefighters joined the ranks of the Fire Department.
In 1984 and 1989, the comedy films Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters is a 1984 American science fiction comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis and follows three eccentric parapsychologists in New York City, who start a...
and Ghostbusters II
Ghostbusters II
Ghostbusters II is a 1989 science fiction comedy film produced and directed by Ivan Reitman. It is the sequel to the 1984 film Ghostbusters and follows the further adventures of a group of parapsychologists and their organization which combats paranormal activities...
used the Manhattan Ladder Company 8 building for the externals of the Ghostbusters' office building. On March 17, 1996, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani merged the emergency medical services of the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation into the FDNY.
September 11, 2001 attacks
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
hijacked four commercial passenger aircraft to be used to attack targets in New York and Washington, DC, in what came to be known as the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
or 9/11. Two aircraft, American Airlines Flight 11
American Airlines Flight 11
American Airlines Flight 11 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight from Logan International Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California...
and United Airlines Flight 175
United Airlines Flight 175
United Airlines Flight 175 was United Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight, from Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California...
, were flown by terrorists into the twin towers of 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...
, causing massive damage and starting fires that eventually caused the weakened 110-story skyscrapers to collapse.
New York City fire companies and EMS crews were deployed to the World Trade Center minutes after the first aircraft struck the north tower. Chief officers set up a command center in the lobby as first arriving units entered the building and firefighters began climbing the stairs. A mobile command center was also set up outside on Vesey Street, but was destroyed when the buildings collapsed. A command post was then set up at a firehouse in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
. The FDNY deployed 200 units to the site, with more than 400 firefighters, EMTs and paramedics on the scene when the buildings collapsed.
William M. Feehan
William M. Feehan was a member of the Fire Department of New York who died during the collapse of the World Trade Center. Feehan held every rank within the department, starting with Probationary Firefighter upon his appointment on October 10, 1959. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1964 and...
, Chief of Department Peter Ganci Department Chaplain Mychal Judge, and Battalion Chief Orio Palmer
Orio Palmer
Orio Joseph Palmer was a Battalion Chief of the New York City Fire Department who died while rescuing occupants of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001...
.
Meanwhile, average response times to fires elsewhere in the city that day only rose by one minute, to 5.5 minutes. Many of the surviving firefighters continued to work alternating 24-hour shifts as part of the Rescue and recovery effort after the September 11, 2001 attacks
Rescue and recovery effort after the September 11, 2001 attacks
The rescue and recovery effort after the September 11 attacks comprised the local, state and federal agency reaction to the September 11 attacks. The unprecedented events of that day elicited the largest response of local emergency and rescue personnel to assist in the evacuation of the two towers...
. Firefighters and EMS personnel came from hundreds of miles around New York City, including numerous career and volunteer units in Upstate New York, Long Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida and even Michigan.
2002–present
Northeast Blackout of 2003
The Northeast blackout of 2003 was a widespread power outage that occurred throughout parts of the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Ontario, Canada on Thursday, August 14, 2003, just before 4:10 p.m....
, FDNY was called on to rescue hundreds of people from stranded elevators in approximately 800 Manhattan high-rise office and apartment buildings. The entire fire department was held over from the day tour to almost double the total force to 3,401 firefighters to handle the many fires which resulted, reportedly from people using candles for light.
At the beginning of the 21st century, there are 11,400 uniformed fire officers and firefighters under the command of the Chief of Department. The New York City Fire Department also includes 2800 Emergency Medical Technician
Emergency medical technician
Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
s, Paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
s and Supervisor
Supervisor
A supervisor, foreperson, team leader, overseer, cell coach, facilitator, or area coordinator is a manager in a position of trust in business...
s assigned to Department's EMS Command, and 1200 civilian employees.
Salvatore Cassano is the current commissioner of the FDNY. He received this job from Mayor Michael Bloomberg (January 1, 2010). Mr. Cassano is the 34th FDNY Commissioner.
Ideology and core competencies
The FDNY derives its name from the Tweed Charter which created the Fire Department of the City of New York. This is in contrast to most other fire departments in the U.S. where the name of the city precedes the words fire department.Ideology
- The FDNY ideology of aggressive interior fire attack grew naturally out of the building and population density that characterize the city.
- The contribution of Irish Americans to the FDNY dates back to the formation of the paid fire department. During the Civil War New York's Irish firefighters were the backbone of the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment11th New York Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of Union Army in the early years of the American Civil War. The regiment was organized in New York City in May 1861 as a Zouave regiment, known for its unusual dress and drill style, by Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth, a personal...
(New York Fire Zouaves), a highly decorated unit. - Members of the FDNY have the nickname "New York's Bravest".
- Members of the FDNY EMS have the nickname "New York's Best".
- In addition to firefighting, rescue and HAZMATHazmatHazmat, HazMat and similar terms can refer to:* Hazardous materials and items—see Dangerous goods** Hazchem—a system of hazardous chemical classification and firefighting modes** A hazmat suit is a type of protective clothing...
, FDNY stations ambulances throughout the city and supplies paramedicParamedicA paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
s and EMTEmergency medical technicianEmergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
s. Together with ambulances run by certain participating hospitals (locally known as voluntaries, not to be confused with Volunteers) and private companies, it is known as the FDNY EMS Command, which is the largest pre-hospital care provider in the world, responding to over 1.3 million calls each year. All of the FDNY EMS Command members are also trained to the HAZMAT Operations level. A select group of 35 EMS units (15 BLS & 20 ALS) are known as Hazardous Material Tactical Units (Haz-Tac Ambulances) whose members are trained to the level of Hazardous Materials Technician which allows them to provide emergency medical care and decontaminationDecontaminationDecontamination is the process of cleansing the human body to remove contamination by hazardous materials including chemicals, radioactive substances, and infectious material...
in a hazardous environment, in addition to their normal 911 duties. Of these 35 ambulances, ten are also Rescue Paramedic Ambulances whose crews are additionally trained for: Confined space rescue, Trench Rescue, Crush Injuries, and Building Collapse Rescues. The Rescue Medics operate with additional exclusive protocols and specialized medical equipment.
Core competencies
A citywide Incident Management System plan released by the Office of the Mayor on May 14, 2004 set forth several "core competencies" which determine which agency has the authority to direct operations. FDNY core competencies include:- Fire suppression
- Pre-hospital emergency medical careEmergency medical servicesEmergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
- Search and rescueSearch and rescueSearch and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
- Structural evacuation
- CBRNE/HAZMAT life safety and mass decontamination
- Cause and origin, and arson investigations
- Fire prevention inspections
Fire calls for 2006
For the period January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2006 the FDNY dealt with the following number of calls:- Structural fires: 27,817
- Non-structural fires: 20,702
- Non-fire emergencies: 198,202
- Medical emergencies: 209,397
There were 2,971 serious fires in 2006, defined as those declared 'all hands' or above in severity. Response times to incidents were roughly between two and a half, to six minutes from the time of call, depending on total activity and borough, with the quickest responses being in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the slowest in Queens and Staten Island.
Fire calls for 2007
For the period January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2007 the FDNY dealt with the following number of calls:- Structural fires: 28,004
- Non-structural fires: 19,388
- Non-fire emergencies: 209,943
- Medical emergencies: 207,677
There were 3,143 serious fires in 2007, defined as those declared 'all hands' or above in severity.
Fire calls for 2008
For the period January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2008 the FDNY dealt with the following number of calls:- Structural fires: 26,862
- Non-structural fires: 17,192
- Non-fire emergencies: 191,926
- Medical emergencies: 211,776
There were 2,715 serious fires in 2008, defined as those declared 'all hands' or above in severity. Response times to incidents were roughly between four to five minutes from the time of call, depending on total activity and borough, with the quickest responses being in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the slowest in Queens and Staten Island.
Fire calls for 2009
For the period January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2009 the FDNY dealt with the following number of calls:- Structural fires: 26,666
- Non-structural fires: 17,011
- Non-fire emergencies: 194,406
- Medical emergencies: 209,563
There were 2,485 serious fires in 2009, defined as those declared 'all hands' or above in severity.
Unit Activity CY 2009
Top Five Engine Companies
| Company | Runs |
|---|---|
| 1. Engine 62 | 5,498 |
| 2. Engine 75 | 5,346 |
| 3. Engine 58 | 5,300 |
| 4. Engine 290 | 5,153 |
| 5. Engine 37 | 5,124 |
Top Five Ladder Companies
| Company | Runs |
|---|---|
| 1. Ladder 123 | 4,432 |
| 2. Ladder 43 | 4,366 |
| 3. Ladder 120 | 4,261 |
| 4. Ladder 26 | 4,242 |
| 5. Ladder 28 | 4,233 |
Top Five Battalions
| Battalion | Runs |
|---|---|
| 1. Battalion 9 | 5,114 |
| 2. Battalion 8 | 4,416 |
| 3. Battalion 16 | 4,226 |
| 4. Battalion 50 | 4,074 |
| 5. Battalion 6 | 3,863 |
Top Five EMS Units
| Unit | Runs |
|---|---|
| 1. 57A3 | 2,988 |
| 2. 37B2 | 2,879 |
| 3. 37D3 | 2,789 |
| 4. 37B3 | 2,777 |
| 5. 48B2 | 2,766 |
Fire Calls for 2010
For the period January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2010 the FDNY dealt with the following number of calls:- Structural fires: 26,748
- Non-structural fires: 44,585
- Non-fire emergencies: 217,411
- Medical emergencies: 218,686
There were 2,708 serious fires in 2010, defined as those declared 'all hands' or above in severity.
Unit Activity CY 2010
Top Five Engine Companies
| Company | Runs |
|---|---|
| 1. Engine 62 | 5,457 |
| 2. Engine 75 | 5,433 |
| 3. Engine 290 | 5,407 |
| 4. Engine 79 | 5,324 |
| 5. Engine 298 | 5,290 |
Top Five Ladder Companies
| Company | Runs |
|---|---|
| 1. Ladder 123 | 4,465 |
| 2. Ladder 120 | 4,418 |
| 3. Ladder 43 | 4,344 |
| 4. Ladder 26 | 4,283 |
| 5. Ladder 28 | 4,268 |
Top Five Battalions
| Battalion | Runs |
|---|---|
| 1. Battalion 9 | 4,904 |
| 2. Battalion 8 | 4,295 |
| 3. Battalion 50 | 4,223 |
| 4. Battalion 16 | 3,974 |
| 5. Battalion 6 | 3,882 |
Top Five EMS Units
| Unit | Runs |
|---|---|
| 1. 07C1 | 2,360 |
| 2. 16B3 | 2,337 |
| 3. 06A3 | 2,308 |
| 4. 16E3 | 2,302 |
| 5. 07C3 | 2,282 |
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/vital_stats_2008_final.pdf
Bureau of Communications
The initial call to an FDNY communications office is taken by the Alarm Receipt Dispatcher (ARD) who speaks with the caller in order to determine the nature of the emergency. The ARD enters the information by keyboard into the Starfire computer system, which gives a recommended response based on the information provided. This information is automatically sent to the Decision Dispatcher (DD)and the "Tour Supervising Dispatcher".
When the Decision Dispatcher has made a decision as to what units will actually be assigned to the incident, unless the supervisor intervenes, he or she pushes the "release" button and the alarm is routed to the assigned companies, either in their firehouses or to the mobile data terminals (MDT) if their apparatus is in the field, depending on where the Starfire computer shows them to be situated. If a unit in a fire station does not acknowledge the run within 30 seconds, the computer will notify the voice alarm dispatcher who will call that unit in the station by the dedicated intercom system. One minute after the alarm is released, it will appear on the computer screen of the radio dispatcher, who will announce the alarm and the response two times and ask for acknowledgment from any units assigned who have not done so by radio, voice alarm or MDT. The radio dispatcher has a special keyboard called the Status Entry Panel "SEP" which he uses to update the status of units based on information he receives by radio.
The entire process from initial notification until a unit is dispatched can take up to two (2) minutes, depending on the complexity of the call, the information provided by the caller(s) and the degree of other alarm activity in the office. If a borough alarm office is so busy that its incoming telephone alarm lines are all busy or not answered within 30 seconds, the call is automatically transferred to another borough fire alarm office. If an ERS box is not answered with 60 seconds, usually because all of the Alarm receipt Consoles are in use, the computer automatically dispatches an engine company to the box location.
Any fire alarm office in NYC can take a fire or emergency call by telephone for any borough and upon completion of information taking, the incident will automatically be routed by the Starfire computer to the Decision Dispatcher (DD) for the borough in which the incident is reported.
Alarm Receiving and Transmittal
There are five ways in which fires and emergencies can be reported to the New York City Fire Department:- Telephone Alarms: The most common method of contacting the Fire Department is one in which a civilian uses a telephone to dial one of three types of numbers. The first is 9-1-1, which is answered by N.Y.P.D. operators. The second is a special 7-digit telephone number which is published in each borough for the specific purpose of reporting fires. The third involves dialing "0" which routes the call to a telephone company operator who, then, transfers it to the fire alarm dispatchers in the proper F.D.N.Y. central office.
- Alarm Boxes: The second most common method is by means of F.D.N.Y. fire alarm boxFire alarm boxA fire alarm box is an outdoor device used for notifying a fire department of a fire. Early boxes used the telegraph system and were the main method of calling the fire department to a neighborhood in the days before people had telephones. When the box is triggered, a spring-loaded wheel spins and...
es located on the street and in certain public buildings such as schools and hospitals as well as along highways, on bridges, etc. These boxes primarily consist of two types. The first is the mechanical box (...also commonly called a pull-box or a telegraph box...) in which a spring-wound mechanism alternately opens and closes an electrical circuit, thereby rendering a coded number linked to the specific location of the box. Until the advent of the STARFIRE "Computer-Assisted Dispatch System" (C.A.D.S.), dispatchers had to audibly count the taps from mechanical boxes when they were received in the central offices. Today, a "Box Alarm Readout System" (B.A.R.S.) display handles that aspect of the job. The second type is the "Emergency Reporting System" (E.R.S.) box that is equipped with buttons to notify either the F.D.N.Y. or the N.Y.P.D., allowing either department's dispatcher to have direct voice communication with a reporting party. Beginning in the 1970s, E.R.S. boxes started to replace mechanical boxes in many areas of the City. In December of 1994, then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and then-Fire Commissioner Howard Safir began a concerted effort to remove all of the mechanical and E.R.S. boxes throughout New York City in a cost-cutting move. Facing stiff opposition from members of the City Council, community groups, dispatchers and others, the move was blocked by court order as being discriminatory against the disabled [i.e., particularly the speech- and/or hearing-impaired] who – along with the poor – might otherwise have no dependable way to report fires and emergencies if the alarm boxes were eliminated. (In addition, unlike many other cities in the world, it was noted that 117 different languages and dialects are spoken by the residents of and visitors to the "Big Apple." Since, unlike telephones, a fire alarm box requires no verbal contact to indicate its exact location, a person would not have to be able to speak – at all – or to understand English in order to alert the F.D.N.Y. to a fire or emergency. For this reason, as well, the boxes were recognized as being vital to New Yorkers' safety.) - "Class 3" Alarms: Less common than the first two means of reporting fires are so-called "Class 3"s which are routed through commercial alarm companies. These firms monitor sprinkler systems, standpipes, smoke detectors and internal pull-stations in non-public occupancies such as factories, warehouses, stores and office buildings. When alarms are received from such accounts, these companies pass-along the information to the F.D.N.Y. central offices, usually by dedicated telephone circuits. (The term "Class 3" derives from the fact that the box number on such an assignment card would have a "3" preceding it as well as a "terminal" following it [e.g., "3-7012-4" would indicate a private alarm system in a commercial occupancy at a specific address in the immediate vicinity of Box 7012 on the corner of Review Avenue and Laurel Hill Boulevard in Queens]. In such cases, the type of alarm [e.g., sprinkler, smoke detector, interior pull-station, etc.] as well as an exact address – and, often, even a specific section of a building – would instantly be made available to responding units.)
- Verbal Alarms: The least common means of reporting fires or emergencies generally involves civilians "verbally" making such reports directly to firehouses –or– when incidents are observed by fire units themselves when they are away from their quarters. (However, "verbal" alarms may also be reported by chief officers, Department officials [e.g., commissioners, medical officers, chaplains, et alii] or civilian employees of the F.D.N.Y. [e.g., communications electricians, mechanics and such – even the dispatchers themselves] who observe fires or emergencies in the course of the performance of their duties.) If a fire company is available, in quarters, it will immediately respond to the incident after advising the dispatchers of same via telephone, Voice Alarm or radio. If the unit is away from its firehouse [e.g., responding to or operating at another alarm, on inspection duty, etc.] at the time, the company will either stop at the new incident and operate, or the officer will request a separate assignment (...because the reporting unit is unavailable to operate). Based on the information received by the dispatchers, the appropriate action [e.g., transmitting a new box, etc.] is initiated in regard to the new incident.
When a member of the public dials "9-1-1," he or she is connected to an N.Y.P.D. operator who assigns the call to where it needs to go based on the information provided.
- If it is police related, the information is sent to an N.Y.P.D. radio dispatcher for the precinct or special unit concerned.
- If it is on a bridge or in tunnel connected to New Jersey or at Kennedy or LaGuardia Airport, the Port Authority of New York and New JerseyPort Authority of New York and New JerseyThe 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...
is also notified. - If it is a fire, haz-mat or rescueRescueRescue refers to responsive operations that usually involve the saving of life, or prevention of injury during an incident or dangerous situation....
incident, the 9-1-1 operator transfers the call by dedicated phone line to the appropriate F.D.N.Y. central office. (Depending on the type of incident, the N.Y.P.D. may notify its own Emergency Services Unit[s] to respond instead of or along with the Fire Department.)
Fire alarm dispatchers handle comparatively few medical calls made directly to them, since the vast majority of such incidents are routed straight to the F.D.N.Y.'s E.M.S. communications office by the N.Y.P.D. 9-1-1 operators. However, a medical call that requires the assistance of "first-responder"-trained fire unit[s] will have said request routed electronically to the appropriate fire alarm central office for the assignment of the proper personnel and apparatus.
Box Numbers
Each address in the city is assigned a box number, based on the closest street, special building or highway box. This gives the companies en route cross streets for the alarm. Box numbers can be duplicated in different boroughs, which is why they are always identified by borough name or numerical prefix on the computer (66 for Bronx and Manhattan, 77 for Brooklyn, 88 for Staten Island and 99 for Queens). If there is also a street address given to the dispatchers, the responding apparatus will get this information in the firehouse, over the air, and via their mobile data terminals in the rigs. At present there are about 16,000 physical street boxes in New York City, with many additional special building boxes and highway boxes, as well as "dummy boxes" used for special response assignments. In addition there are two airport crash boxes, one in the LaGuardia Tower, (Queens Box 37), and one in the JFK Tower, (Queens Box 269), which can only be activated by the personnel in these towers. When either box is sounded it brings an automatic second alarm (2–2) response of equipment, along with various special units.Critical Information Dispatch System
CIDS stands for Critical Information Dispatch System, and is pronounced by the dispatcher as "Sids." CIDS information which is transmitted to units in the firehouse and en route is information that is collected on a building during inspections and by public input, which would have an impact on fire-fighting operations. Such things as:- warehoused apartments,
- type and length of line stretch (or hose),
- number of apartments per floor,
- unsafe conditions, standpipe conditions, and
- anything else the Bureau of Fire Communications or the FDNY Staff Chiefs deem important
This information is printed on the fire ticket and can be read by the dispatcher if requested. This information is also read automatically when a signal 10–75 (working fire) or higher signal is given or when the supervising dispatcher deems it is important for the units to have it before arrival at an incident.
Alarm Levels
The New York City Fire Department utilizes a series of Radio Bell Code Signals and 10-Code Signals to transmit and relay information during general department operations and during emergency situations. Below is a listing of Radio Bell Code Signals and commonly used 10-Code Signals utilized by the FDNY on a daily basis.Radio Bell Code Signals
| Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1–1 | 1st Alarm announcement and/or response. |
| 2-2 | 2nd Alarm announcement and/or response. |
| 3 | Indicating an alarm originating in a special FDNY Alarm Box(8000 series boxes). |
| 3-3 | 3rd Alarm announcement and/or response. |
| 4 | Battalion Chief response required. |
| 4-4 | 4th Alarm announcement and/or response. |
| 5 | Engine Company response required. |
| 5-5 | 5th Alarm announcement and/or response. |
| 5–7 | 1 Engine Company and 1 Ladder Company response required. |
| 5-5-5-5 | Line of Duty Death(L.O.D.D.). All flags lowered half staff. |
| 6 | Marine Company response required. |
| 6-5-2 | Department message. |
| 7 | Ladder Company response required. |
| 7-5 | All-Hands announcement and/or response. |
| 8 | Squad Company response required. |
| 9 | Preliminary report for Special Units. |
| 10 | Rescue Company response required. |
| 14 | Battalion Chief relocation or returning from relocation. |
| 15 | Engine Company relocation or returning from relocation. |
| 16 | Marine Company relocation or returning from relocation. |
| 17 | Ladder Company relocation or returning from relocation. |
10-Code Signals
Click on the link to view the 52 10-Codes used by the FDNY: 10-Codes.
A Signal 10–75 is transmitted by the first arriving fire company for a working fire or other incident where it appears that the assigned companies will likely all be put to work at a fire or other emergency. Contrary to common belief, a 10–75 can be transmitted where the emergency is non-fire related but appears to require a full first alarm assignment. When a 10–75 is given, a Rescue Company and a Squad Company are automatically assigned, unless they have already been assigned on the box. In addition, a third and fourth engine company as well as a second truck company and a F.A.S.T. truck (ladder company) are assigned, along with an additional battalion chief. Notification is made to the deputy (division) chief for the district, and he almost always asks for a fire ticket and starts his response.
When all companies are put to work at an incident, the Signal 7-5 is transmitted over the Starfire computer system, but on the radio the listener will simply hear the terms "All Hands" or "All Companies at Work (or Working)." If the "All Hands" is in a subway or railroad facility, or any other location where communications might be difficult, a Field Communications Unit is sent. A Deputy Chief is mandatorily assigned on transmission of the Signal 7-5, but he almost always has responded on the 10–75 signal.
Special calls for additional units above a Signal 7-5 are by number and type of unit. A Dispatcher's greater alarm, formerly used to fill out special call requests during busy periods of fire activity, has been eliminated from dispatch procedures.
Higher alarms bring additional ladders, engines and special equipment, depending on location and type of incident. Greater alarms are a Second (Signal 2-2), a Third (3–3), a Fourth (4–4), and a Fifth (5–5). Technically there are no alarms greater than a Fifth Alarm and no computer signals exist for them. If a chief asks for a sixth or higher alarm, it has to be written out as such in the computer and companies are assigned by the Supervising Dispatcher of the Tour. Borough calls and simultaneous calls, previously used for incidents that required more than a five alarm assignment, have been eliminated from dispatch procedures.
There are also certain special signals given for unique incidents. Several of them include:
| Alarm Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 10–60 | Declared as a major incident, it brings a major response of equipment to the scene and mandates transmission of next highest alarm |
| 10–66 | The newest signal, this is used for missing firefighters at an incident. It mandates the transmission of the next higher alarm level. It was first used at the August, 2007, fatal fire in the Deutsche Bank Building, where a number of firefighters got lost in an illegal maze of demolition and asbestos removal structures, and where two veteran firemen were killed. |
| 10–75 | Working Fire reported and assignment requested. Declared when smoke or fire is showing from a building. |
| 10–76 | Working fire in a high-rise (more than 7 stories) commercial building or hotel. |
| 10–77 | Working fire in a high-rise (more than 7 stories) residential building. |
| 10–80 | Hazardous Materials incident |
Any or all of these signals: 10–76, 10–77, 10–60, 10–66 and 10–80, can be used in conjunction with a 10–75, a 7–5("All Hands") or a greater alarm, depending on circumstances. For example, at the aforementioned Deutsche Bank Building Fatal Fire in 2007, seven alarms were struck in addition to the use of the 10–76, 10–66 and 10–80 signals. The 2007 Manhattan Steampipe explosion utilized six alarms, plus the 10–60 and 10–80 signals. If a 10–66 is transmitted as the result of a collapse, a 10–60 must also be transmitted; this will result in the next 2 higher alarms being transmitted, (1 addtl alarm for each signal).
Structure Fires
- 1-1(1st/Box Alarm) Assignment(Minimum):
- 2 Engine
- 1 Ladder
- 1 Battalion
- 1-1(1st/Box Alarm) Assignment(Standard):
- 2 Engines
- 2 Ladders
- 1 Battalion
- 1-1(1st/Box Alarm) Assignment(Maximum):
- 4 Engines
- 3 Ladders
- 1 Battalion
- 10–75(Working Fire) Assignment:
- 1 Engine
- 1 Ladder(F.A.S.T.)
- 1 Squad
- 1 Rescue
- 1 Battalion
- 1 Division
- 7-5(All-Hands) Assignment(Specially-Called Assignment):
- 1 Engine
- 1 Ladder
- 1 Recuperation and Care(R.A.C.) Unit
- 10–76(High-Rise Office/Hotel Fire) Assignment:
- 3 Engines(1 for High-Rise Nozzle, 1 for C.F.R.D., 1 for High-Rise Unit)
- 2 Ladders
- 3 Battalions(1 for Safety)
- Safety Battalion
- Rescue Battalion
- 1 High-Rise Unit
- 1 Tactical Support Unit(T.S.U.)
- 1 Recuperation and Care(R.A.C.) Unit
- 1 Mask Service Unit(M.S.U.)
- 1 Field Comm. Unit
- 1 Command Tactical(Comm. Tac.) Unit
- 10–77(High-Rise Dwelling Fire) Assignment:
- 3 Engines(1 for High-Rise Nozzle, 1 for C.F.R.D., 1 for High-Rise Unit)
- 2 Ladders
- 2 Battalions(1 for Safety)
- Safety Battalion
- Rescue Battalion
- 1 High-Rise Unit
- 1 Field Comm. Unit
- 1 Command Tactical(Comm. Tac.) Unit
- 2-2(2nd Alarm) Assignment:
- 5 Engines(1 w/Satellite Unit)
- 2 Ladders
- 2 Battalions(1 for Safety, 1 for Resource Unit Leader)
- 1 Satellite Unit
- Safety Battalion
- Rescue Battalion
- 1 Tactical Support Unit(T.S.U.)
- 1 Field Comm. Unit
- 3-3(3rd Alarm) Assignment:
- 4 Engines
- 2 Ladders
- 3 Battalions(1 for Staging, 1 for Air Recon.)
- 1 Deputy Chief
- 1 Mask Service Unit(M.S.U.)
- 4-4(4th Alarm) Assignment:
- 4 Engines
- 2 Ladders
- 1 Battalion(Planning)
- 5–5(5th Alarm) Assignment:
- 4 Engines
- 2 Ladders
- 1 Assistant Chief(Boro Commander)
- Chief of Operations
- Confined-Space Rescue Assignment:
- 3 Engines
- 3 Ladders(1 S.O.C. Support Ladder)
- 1 Squad
- 2 Rescues
- 1 Battalion
- Safety Battalion
- Rescue Battalion
- Haz-Mat. Battalion
- 1 Haz-Mat. Unit
- 1 T.S.U.
- 1 Field Comm. Unit
- 1 S.O.C. Rebreather Unit
- 1 EMS Recue Medic Unit
- 1 Haz Tac Officer Unit
- 1 Response Physician (5M)
Bureau of EMS
Calls to 911 for emergency medical servicesEmergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
(EMS) in New York City are dispatched by the New York City Fire Department's Emergency Medical Dispatch under its Communications Bureau.
Ambulances are staffed by uniformed service EMTs and paramedics of the FDNY or civilian EMTs and paramedics working for non-profit, 'voluntary' hospitals. It is the largest public, non-profit ambulance partnership in the world.
Prior to March 17, 1996, municipal ambulances were operated by NYC EMS under the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation
New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation
The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation operates the public hospitals and clinics in New York City. A public benefit corporation with $6.7 billion in annual revenues, HHC is the largest municipal healthcare system in the United States serving 1.3 million patients, including more than...
a public benefit corporation, which dispatched both its own ambulances and hospital ambulances. After that date, NYC EMS was merged with the FDNY and became the Bureau of EMS. it is referred to as the FDNY-EMS Command and is an operational unit of the FDNY which operates under the Chief of EMS, who in turn reports to the Chief of Department.
FDNY-EMS respond to more than 1.2 million medical emergencies per year, or 3300 per day. Although EMS in New York City is controlled and dispatched by the Fire Department, approximately 30% of the ambulances in the system are operated by the non-profit hospitals in New York City, the majority of these being in Manhattan and Queens. These hospitals have historically provided emergency ambulances for over 125 years, with some now subcontracting actual ambulance operations to private ambulance providers. New York City also has a number of neighborhood volunteer ambulance corps that respond to emergency calls, primarily in the outer boroughs.
The New York City prehospital care system consists of three distinct levels: First responder engine companies, staffed by firefighters trained as certified first responder
Certified first responder
A certified first responder is a person who has completed a course and received certification in providing pre-hospital care for medical emergencies. They have more skill than someone who is trained in basic first aid but they are not a substitute for advanced medical care rendered by emergency...
s (CFRs) providing first aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
, CPR, and defibrillation
Defibrillation
Defibrillation is a common treatment for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Defibrillation consists of delivering a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the affected heart with a device called a defibrillator...
; basic life support (BLS) ambulances, whose two EMTs provide first aid, defibrillation, and limited medication administration; and advanced life support (ALS) ambulances, whose two paramedics provide prehospital critical care, including patient assessment, 12-lead electrocardiography, pulse oximetry, defibrillation, cardioversion, cardiac pacing, endotracheal intubation and other advanced airway procedures; intravenous (IV), interosseous (IO), intramuscular (IM), oral (PO) and respiratory therapy, with over 40 medications both under standing medical orders and in consultation with a medical control physician. Each area of response is divided into overlapping grids, with the closest FDNY first responder engine company dispatched to life-threatening emergencies, along with both a BLS and ALS level ambulance as necessary.
Some EMTs and paramedics have been trained as Hazardous Materials Technicians and function to provide patient care while wearing Chemical Protective Clothing in the 'Hot Zone' at HazMat incidents. Recently, all of FDNY-EMS's EMTs and paramedics have been trained to the Hazardous Materials Operations level in order to operate in the 'Warm Zone' of HazMat incidents. Some of the HazMat trained paramedics have been trained at the FDNY Fire Academy as 'Rescue Medics' in order to be able to provide patient care in both high-rise rescue and confined space situations.
While EMTs and paramedics work well professionally with the firefighters of New York City, there have been occasional "culture clashes" between EMS and Fire, for instance, a plan in 2006 to move ambulances into a firehouse in Queens drew an outcry from both the unions of the firefighters and EMS workers and was ultimately scrapped by the city. This is due to several factors, the relative little attention paid to the sacrifices and achievements of EMS workers by the public in relation to that paid to firefighters, as well as the separate mindset that each respective job entails; firefighters must operate as a team and strictly and swiftly execute the orders they are given by their officers to achieve their goals, while EMT and paramedic crews are expected to act independently and usually without direct supervision by their EMT and paramedic officers or medical control physicians, in most cases, due to the nature of the job.
Apparatus
Fire apparatus
A fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
manufacturers nearly exclusively. Beginning in the late 1970s, Mack
Mack Trucks
Mack Trucks is an American truck-manufacturing company and a former manufacturer of buses and trolley buses. A wholly owned subsidiary of Renault Véhicules Industriels since 1990, Mack Trucks is currently a subsidiary of AB Volvo. The company's headquarters are located in Greensboro, North Carolina...
and American LaFrance
American LaFrance
American LaFrance is an emergency and vocational vehicle manufacturer, currently based in Summerville, South Carolina. Focusing primarily on emergency apparatus fire engines and fire aerial including ambulance and rescue vehicles.-History:...
made most of the pumpers and ladder trucks in the FDNY fleet. In the late 1980s, Mack made only chassis and not apparatus bodies, so Ward
IC Corporation
IC Bus is a bus manufacturer in the United States. The company was established in 2002 as a re-branding of American Transportation Corporation . IC Bus traces its roots back to Ward Body Works, which was established in 1933...
was used for truck bodies. Often Mack would work with Baker Aerialscope to create its tower ladders. Mack left the fire apparatus business in the early 1990s and FDNY turned to Seagrave
Seagrave Fire Apparatus
Seagrave Fire Apparatus LLC is a manufacturer of fire apparatus that specializes in pumper and rescue units, as well as aerial towers. In addition to manufacturing new equipment, they refurbish, repair and upgrade older Seagrave apparatus, including National Fire Protection Association updates to...
to develop its next generation of fire truck. FDNY's very specific specifications meant that few apparatus manufacturers could compete with Seagrave for the contract.
Most of the engines in FDNY's fleet are Seagrave Commander II's and Seagrave Marauder II's and include 500 gallon water tanks and either 1000 or 2000 gallon per minute pumps. The 2000gpm pumps are primarily located in the high-rise districts and are considered high pressure pumpers. With the loss of apparatus which occurred as a result of the September 11 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, FDNY began to use engines made by other companies including Ferrara
Ferrara Fire Apparatus
Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc. is an American manufacturer of emergency service equipment, primarily fire engines, based in Holden, Louisiana, founded by Chris Ferrara. The facility was built by Firmin Construction Corporation...
and E-One
E-One
E-One or Emergency One Incorporated is an emergency services manufacturer and marketer based in Ocala, Florida.- History :Founded in 1974, E-One has a staff of roughly 900 in four plants in the United States. In 1993 E-One purchased Superior Emergency Equipment and in 2004 bought Saulsbury Fire...
. The FDNY is making the move from a fixed cab to a "Split-Tilt" cab, so the Seagrave Marauder II Pumper will fill the FDNY's new order for 69 new pumpers.
Truck companies are generally equipped with Seagrave aerials. Ladder length varies and often depends on the geographic area to which the unit is assigned. Those in the older sections of the city often use tiller trucks to allow for greater maneuverability. Before Seagrave was the predominant builder, Mack CF's built with Baker tower ladders were popular. Most FDNY aerials are built with 75’, 95' or 100' ladders. Tiller ladders, rear mount ladders and mid-mount tower ladders are the types of trucks used. In 2010, a new contract was issued for 10–100' rear-mount ladder trucks to Ferrara Fire Apparatus, using a chassis and stainless steel cab custom-designed to FDNY specifications. Delivery of the first of these new trucks is anticipated in the 1st quarter of 2011.
Specialty units
For specialty units, FDNY uses a variety of manufacturers. Its current heavy rescuesHeavy rescue vehicle
A heavy rescue vehicle is a type of specialty firefighting or EMS apparatus. They are primarily designed to provide the specialized equipment necessary for technical rescue situations such as auto accidents requiring vehicle extrication, building collapses, confined space rescue, rope rescues and...
, often called a 'toolbox on wheels' are made by Pierce
Pierce Manufacturing
Pierce Manufacturing is an Appleton, Wisconsin based manufacturer of custom fire and rescue apparatus and a wholly owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation. Pierce was acquired by Oshkosh in 1996. The company was originally founded in 1913 by Humphrey Pierce and his son Dudley as the Pierce Auto...
(Rescue 1
New York City Fire Department Rescue Company 1
New York City Fire Department Rescue Company 1 is a specialized unit of the New York Fire Department that responds to fire situations where there are rescue operations that require specialized equipment and training. Rescue 1 is one of five rescue companies in FDNY, and services the Manhattan...
) and E-One
E-One
E-One or Emergency One Incorporated is an emergency services manufacturer and marketer based in Ocala, Florida.- History :Founded in 1974, E-One has a staff of roughly 900 in four plants in the United States. In 1993 E-One purchased Superior Emergency Equipment and in 2004 bought Saulsbury Fire...
/Saulsbury (Rescues 2–5). In 2010, a new contract was issued for 5 new rescue trucks to Ferrara Fire Apparatus, using a chassis and stainless steel cab custom-designed to FDNY specifications. Delivery of the first of these new trucks is anticipated in the 1st quarter of 2011. Other specialty units, including hazardous material units, collapse trucks, and reserve rescues are made by American LaFrance, Pierce, E-One,Freightliner,and Ferrara (HAZMAT 1). Various body types include standard heavy rescue bodies, step vans, busses and smaller units built on GMC and Ford pick up truck bodies.
FDNY battalion and division chiefs as well as EMS supervisors operate with Ford Excursion
Ford Excursion
The Ford Excursion is a full-size sport utility vehicle that was produced by the Ford Motor Company between model years 2000 and 2005 . Based on the Super Duty pickup truck platform, it served as Ford's largest SUV in its lineup during the tenure of its production and mainly competed against the...
s which are soon to start being replaced by GMC pick-up trucks with caps and roll out trays in the bed. EMS division chiefs use Crown Victorias.
The ambulances used by FDNY EMS are usually manufactured by Horton Ambulance, and the modules are generally mounted on Ford F-350 light duty truck chassis. When NYC EMS merged with the FDNY in 1996, the ambulances had their orange stripe replaced with a red, and they were manufactured by Wheeled Coach, again on Ford F-350 chassis. Some of the older ambulances were built by Southern Ambulance Builders, and mounted on Chevrolet 3500 chassis
Fireboats
In addition to its engine, truck, and rescue companies, FDNY operates three fireboatFireboat
A fireboat is a specialized watercraft and with pumps and nozzles designed for fighting shoreline and shipboard fires. The first fireboats, dating to the late 18th century, were tugboats, retrofitted with firefighting equipment....
s as Marine Companies:
- Marine 1 – Three Forty ThreeThree Forty Three (fireboat)Three Forty Three is a RAnger 4200 Class Robert Allan Ltd. designed fireboat built to replace the John D. McKean to serve the New York City Fire Department as Marine Company 1...
- Marine 6 – Kevin C. Kane
- Marine 9 – Fire Fighter II
- Reserve – Governor Alfred E. SmithAl SmithAlfred Emanuel Smith. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American statesman who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York three times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928...
A former FDNY Marine Unit, the John J. Harvey
John J. Harvey (fireboat)
-External links:*...
, is notable as having returned to active service as Marine 2 on September 11, 2001 and providing firefighting services for 80 hours following the attack.
In 2010, the newly built fireboat Three Forty Three
Three Forty Three (fireboat)
Three Forty Three is a RAnger 4200 Class Robert Allan Ltd. designed fireboat built to replace the John D. McKean to serve the New York City Fire Department as Marine Company 1...
replaced the John D. McKean, which entered service in 1954, as Marine 1. A twin vessel, Firefighter II, replaced Fire Fighter, dedicated in 1938, as Marine 9.
Types of Apparatus
- Engine is the basic firefighting apparatus. Its main job is to put water on the fire. It is responsible for securing a water supply from a hydrant or some other form and for suppressing the fire.
- Ladder (also called a Truck): The FDNY operates three types—the 100' Rear Mounted Aerial Ladder, Tractor Drawn Aerial Ladder, and the Tower Ladder. FDNY operates 75' and 95' Tower ladder models. These are the ladders where a bucket is mounted on the end of a ladder for firefighters to stand in.
- Squad is a company that responds as a rescue engine, making it the most versatile company the FDNY offers. Members are trained in every aspect of firefighting, specialty rescue and hazardous material mitigation, with exception of SCUBA where their role is to support the Rescue company. The members of a Squad company receive a 12% hazardous material specialty pay.
- Rescue is considered the most elite company within the FDNY community. Its main responsibilities include search and rescue, special rescues, technical rescues, confined space rescues, and high angle rescues and SCUBA. Also trained as Hazardous Material Technicians, the members of a rescue company are included in an extra 12% specialty pay.
- Battalion is a command vehicle tasked with the responsibility of delivering a Battalion Chief to the fire scene. Once on the fire scene, the vehicle then takes on the role of a Command Vehicle, utilizing its radios and MDT equipment.
- Division is a command vehicle tasked with the responsibility of delivering a Division (Deputy) Chief to the fire scene. Once on the fire scene, the vehicle then takes on the role of a Command Vehicle, utilizing its radios and MDT equipment.
- Marine or FireboatFireboatA fireboat is a specialized watercraft and with pumps and nozzles designed for fighting shoreline and shipboard fires. The first fireboats, dating to the late 18th century, were tugboats, retrofitted with firefighting equipment....
is a specialized boat outfitted specifically for firefighting capabilities. Its responsibilities include suppression of all fires that occur on water, such as boat fires, pier fires, etc. A Marine Unit also assists land based companies with securing a water supply, as they have the ability to "draft" water from the rivers they operate in. - Haz-Mat vehicle is a vehicle that has been outfitted with special equipment to allow for the confinement, containment, suppression, and/or any other problem involving hazardous materials. Members of the Haz-Mat company are paid an extra 12% in specialty pay.
- Mask Service Unit is a vehicle that is equipped with an SCBA replenishing system. In other words, these vehicles have the ability to re-fill the air bottles used by firefighters to breathe in a fire.
- RAC or Recuperation And Care vehicle is specially outfitted with equipment that will enable it to provide rehabilitation to firefighters on a fireground.
- Field Communications Unit is a vehicle that is specially equipped with communication equipment such as telephones, broadband internet, and mobile radios. Its main responsibility is to provide communication support to the on scene Incident Commander.
- Tactical Support Unit (or TSU) is a 4x4 vehicle equipped with generators and a variety of high intensity lights to aid firefighters during low light conditions. In addition, specialized equipment such as extrication tools and a six person Avon boat is also carried.
- Thawing Unit The Thawing Units are vehicles that carry a portable steam-generating boiler; its super-heated steam melts the ice off of hoses, ladders and vehicles.
- Brush Fire Unit is a four-wheel-drive, all-terrain vehicle used to reach hilly, remote and marshy areas to extinguish fires involving weeds, grass and other vegetation. Along with regular firefighting equipment, it carries its own water, as well as rakes, shovels, and backpack extinguishers.
- Ambulance The New York City Fire Department staffs EMT-Basic and Paramedic Ambulances to provide emergency medical services to the city of New York. These are commonly referred to by the slang term bus.
- Haz-Tac Ambulance 35 EMS units, known as the Hazardous Material Tactical Units (Haz-Tac Ambulances), are trained to the Haz Mat Technician level allowing them to provide emergency medical care and decontaminationDecontaminationDecontamination is the process of cleansing the human body to remove contamination by hazardous materials including chemicals, radioactive substances, and infectious material...
in a hazardous environment, in addition to their normal 911 duties. - Rescue Medic is an ALS, or Paramedic ambulance that are trained to the Haz Mat Technician level and also trained as Rescue Technicians, the members of a rescue medic units are included in an extra 12% specialty pay.
- EMS Conditions Unit is a vehicle that is assigned to an Emergency Medical Service supervisor. An Emergency Medical Service supervisor oversees ambulances within his or her assigned area.
- EMS MERV is a vehicle that is assigned to all major medical emergencies within its borough. The Major Emergency Response Vehicle is capable of treating multiple patients at a time.
- EMS LSU is a vehicle assigned to all medical emergencies that have multiple patients. The Logistical Support Unit carries a surplus of certain medical supplies used at MCI's, this unit is also responsible for going to retrieve spinal immobilization equipment from area hospitals.
Union representation
The Department's lieutenants, captains, battalion chiefs, deputy chiefs, medical officers and supervising fire marshals are represented by the Uniformed Fire Officers AssociationUniformed Fire Officers Association
Uniformed Fire Officers Association is a union for lieutenants, captains, battalion chiefs, deputy chiefs, medical officers and supervising fire marshals in the Fire Department of New York. Captain Alexander Hagan is the current president of the UFOA. Battalion Chief Jack McDonnell preceded Capt....
(UFOA), while regular firefighters and fire marshals are represented by the Uniformed Firefighters Association
Uniformed Firefighters Association
The Uniformed Firefighters Association is the main union of firefighters in the Fire Department of New York .Its president is Stephen J. Cassidy, a vocal critic of mayor Rudy Giuliani's decisions during the Rescue and recovery effort after the September 11, 2001 attacks.The union has made several...
(UFA), both of which are locals of the International Association of Fire Fighters
International Association of Fire Fighters
The International Association of Fire Fighters is a labor union representing professional firefighters in the United States and Canada. The IAFF was formed in 1918 and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO in the United States and the Canadian Labour Congress in Canada. The IAFF is headquartered in...
. Fire Alarm Dispatchers are represented by the Fire Alarm Dispatchers Benevolent Association. EMTs, paramedics and fire protection inspectors are represented by the Uniformed EMTs & Paramedics and EMS officers are represented by the Uniform EMS Officers Union, both of which are locals of District Council 37
District Council 37
District Council 37 was chartered in 1944 by AFSCME to represent public employees in New York City. It was small and relatively unsuccessful under its first president, Henry Feinstein...
.
FDNY in film and television
The New York City Fire Department has appeared in numerous films and television shows in recent years. One of the earliest was the 1972 documentary Man Alive: The Bronx is BurningMan Alive BBC TV
Man Alive is a documentary and current affairs series which ran on BBC2 between 1965 and 1981. During that time there were nearly 500 programmes tackling a range of social and political issues, both in the UK and abroad...
, for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Television. It was screened in the United Kingdom on September 27, 1972 and followed firefighters from a fire house in the South Bronx
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....
: Battalion 27, Ladder 31 and Engine 82. It chronicled the appalling conditions the firefighters worked in with roughly one emergency call per hour, and the high rates of arson and malicious calls.
The documentary focused heavily on firefighter Dennis Smith
Dennis Smith (firefighter)
Dennis Smith is a former firefighter, a writer and president of a financial services company for emergency services personnel. He served for 18 years as a firefighter with the New York City Fire Department and is an advocate for firefighters in the United States.-Firefighter:Smith began his career...
who served in the South Bronx area and went on to write Report from Engine Co. 82 and a number of other books. He has become a prominent speaker on firefighting policy.
In 1991, brothers Brian Hickey, a New York City firefighter and his brother Raymond produced a documentary entitled Firefighters: Brothers in Battle. The film features footage of fires and rescues throughout the five boroughs of New York City, including the infamous Happy Land Social Club
Happy Land Fire
The Happy Land fire was an arson fire that killed 87 people trapped in an unlicensed social club called "Happy Land" in the West Farms section of The Bronx, New York, on March 25, 1990. Most of the victims were young ethnic Hondurans celebrating Carnival...
fire which killed 87 persons, dramatic rescues from a crashed airplane off of La Guardia Airport, and footage and interviews at Medal Day 1991. Unfortunately, Raymond died of cancer in 1993 and Brian was killed on September 11, 2001 while operating at the World Trade Center. Brian last served as Captain of Rescue Company 4 in Queens.
The 2002 documentary film 9/11
9/11 (film)
9/11 is a 2002 American documentary film about the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, in which two planes crashed into the buildings of the World Trade Center from the point of view of the New York City Fire Department...
features the September 11, 2001 attacks from the perspective of two amateur film makers and the members of first responders, Engine 7/Ladder 1 and Battalion 1 on Duane street in Lower Manhattan. Two other documentaries include the 2005 film Brotherhood: Life in the FDNY, which focuses on Squad 252 in Brooklyn, Rescue 1
New York City Fire Department Rescue Company 1
New York City Fire Department Rescue Company 1 is a specialized unit of the New York Fire Department that responds to fire situations where there are rescue operations that require specialized equipment and training. Rescue 1 is one of five rescue companies in FDNY, and services the Manhattan...
in Manhattan and Rescue 4 in Queens.
Television series about FDNY have included Rescue Me
Rescue Me (TV series)
Rescue Me is an American television drama series that premiered on the FX Network on July 21, 2004, and concluded on September 7, 2011. The series focuses on the professional and personal lives of a group of New York City firefighters in the fictitious Ladder 62 / Engine 99 firehouse.The show...
, which began airing in 2004 and depicts the fictional life of firefighters in an FDNY firehouse. The NBC drama Third Watch
Third Watch
Third Watch is an American television drama series which first aired on NBC from 1999 to 2005 for a total of 132 episodes, broadcast in 6 seasons of 22 episodes each....
ran from 1999 to 2005 and provided a fictionalized and dramatized depiction of the firefighters and paramedics of the FDNY and police officers of the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
.
Ranks of the FDNY
- Chief of Department
- Chief of Fire Operations/Chief of EMS Operations
- Assistant Chief/EMS Assistant Chief
- Deputy Assistant Chief
- Division Chief/EMS Division Chief
- Deputy Division Chief/EMS Deputy Division Chief (Deputy to Division Chief or citywide EMS shift supervisor)
- Battalion Chief
- Captain (Company Commanding Officer, and commanding officer of the firehouse if assigned to an Engine company)/EMS Captain (EMS Station commanding officer or EMS Division shift supervisor)
- Lieutenant (Company Officer)/EMS Lieutenant (shift supervisor, desk or conditions)
- Firefighter (5th through 1st Class, one class being achieved for each year of service after probation up to five years)/EMT/Paramedic
- Probationary Firefighter (often referred to as "Probie", as slang for rookie)/Provisional EMT/Provisional Paramedic
See also
- Collapse of the World Trade CenterCollapse of the World Trade CenterThe twin towers of the World Trade Center collapsed on September 11, 2001, as a result of al-Qaeda's September 11 attacks, in which terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners, flying one into the North Tower and another into the South Tower...
- Communication during the September 11, 2001 attacksCommunication during the September 11, 2001 attacksCommunication problems and successes played an important role in the September 11, 2001 attacks and their aftermath.-Attackers:The organizers of the September 11, 2001 attacks apparently planned and coordinated their mission in face to face meetings and used little or no electronic communication...
- New York City Fire Commissioner
- New York Fire PatrolNew York Fire PatrolThis article is about the salvage corps in New York City. For the fire department, see New York City Fire Department.The New York Fire Patrol was a salvage corps created by the New York Board of Fire Underwriters which operated from 1839 until October 15, 2006. Their original mission was two-fold:...
- Great Fire of New York (1776)Great Fire of New York (1776)The Great Fire of New York was a devastating fire that burned through the night of September 21, 1776 on the west side of what then constituted New York City at the southern end of the island of Manhattan...
- Great Fire of New York (1835)
- Rossville Fire of 1963Rossville Fire of 1963The Rossville Fire of 1963 was a fire in the neighborhood of Rossville, Staten Island.On April 20, 1963, Rossville was the scene of the worst of three devastating brush fires to strike Staten Island; the three fires collectively destroyed more than 100 homes, rendering over 500 persons homeless and...
- Rescue and recovery effort after the September 11, 2001 attacksRescue and recovery effort after the September 11, 2001 attacksThe rescue and recovery effort after the September 11 attacks comprised the local, state and federal agency reaction to the September 11 attacks. The unprecedented events of that day elicited the largest response of local emergency and rescue personnel to assist in the evacuation of the two towers...
External links
Official websitesOther websites