nfd2004

The Day of Terror, September 11, 2001, when America was attacked.
 
This year marks the 15th Anniversary and we should NEVER FORGET. So many innocent lives were taken away. Including:
 
  343 - New York City Firefighters (FDNY)
  37 - Police Officers of the Port Authority of NY/NJ (PAPD)
  24 - New York City Police Officers (NYPD)
  8 - EMTs/Medics
 
It was the "Deadliest Attack on American soil".
 
 2,606 - killed from the World Trade Center, plus 6,000 injured.
  265 - killed from the Four planes that crashed (Two into the WTC, One in a field in Shanksville, Pa., and One into the Pentagon)
  125 - killed at the U.S. Pentagon
 
2,996 - Totally innocent Americans murdered that day. Each one not just a number, but a human being with families and friends who still miss them today. Today that count continues to rise as more people are dying from the effects of that dust cloud when those Two - 110 story buildings collapsed. For many of us we watched this all live on our televisions. WE MUST NEVER FORGET.
 
  All flights in America were forced to land. For the first and only time in America there were no planes flying. The only planes in the air were U.S. Fighter Jets.
 
  Many of the injured were expected to be transported by train to some of our hospitals in Connecticut. For my sister in law, an RN at Bridgeport (CT) Hospital, a Code D was activated. Meaning all off duty nurses were to report back to work. As they waited, nobody arrived.
 
  Retired FDNY Captain John Vigiano lost two of his sons on September 11, 2001. One a FDNY Firefighter (John) and the other a NYPD Detective (Joe). Ironically his two sons were often referred to as "The Twin Towers", named after the two World Trade Center Buildings.
 www.americanpolicenews.com/vigiano.html  
 
  Sometimes there were five or six funerals a day for those FDNY Firefighters. It was sometimes impossible for these firefighters to go to all of these funerals. There was a request made for firefighters from anywhere, just to show up in uniform to try and give each member the full fire department honor they deserved.
 
  Not only was it necessary to fill those 343 firefighter positions to give the city adequate coverage, but there was also a required amount of firefighters needed to continue searching through the huge pile from the collapse of these two buildings. In addition there was a commitment by the members of the FDNY to cover each and every firehouse in which a funeral was occurring. Just so that those who worked with them could attend the funeral of those they shared the same firehouse with. There were times when those guys did not get home to see their own families for weeks. And this went on for almost a year.
 
  Today, many Ground Zero Firefighters, EMTs, Police Officers, and other nearby Ground Zero workers have come down with 9/11 linked cancer. Others have severe breathing problems. PLUS, the other, over 5,400 people who have suffered from the 9/11 linked cancer. They were also exposed to that dust.
 
  There were many hero's that day. Each one with a story to be told.
 
  A country singer named Alan Jackson decided to write a song about it. He called it; "Where were you when the World Stopped Turning". For those of us who watched these events play out, it is a day we will Never Forget. To this day, 15 years later, it is still hard to believe. Our condolences to those who lost so many of your friends and family members. We thank all of the first responders and other workers involved for the job you did. A job that no one else in our civilized society, has ever had to do.
 
  As we listen to this song, these are some of the memories we saw. Live on TV as it happened, from The Day of Terror, September 11, 2001.
 
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ittG66J8_hQ

This is a 9/11 Story of TRUE Brotherhood within the fire service after the Tragic events of September 11, 2001. A story about an FDNY Rescue Company that lost all of it's members when they responded to the World Trade Center. A story about a FDNY Firefighter who dedicated himself to the children of those lost members, FDNY Firefighter Jo Jo Esposito.
 
There's hundreds of stories of people helping people after the Worst Attack in the history of America.
 
Here is that story of Jo Jo.
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/nyer-of-the-week/2016/09/3/nyer-of-the-week--jo-jo-esposito-stays-loyal-to-the-families-of-his-fallen-brothers.html 

The Day of Terror, September 11, 2001, when America was attacked.
 
This year marks the 15th Anniversary and we should NEVER FORGET. So many innocent lives were taken away. Including:
 
  343 - New York City Firefighters (FDNY)
  37 - Police Officers of the Port Authority of NY/NJ (PAPD)
  24 - New York City Police Officers (NYPD)
  8 - EMTs/Medics
 
It was the "Deadliest Attack on American soil".
 
 2,606 - killed from the World Trade Center, plus 6,000 injured.
  265 - killed from the Four planes that crashed (Two into the WTC, One in a field in Shanksville, Pa., and One into the Pentagon)
  125 - killed at the U.S. Pentagon
 
2,996 - Totally innocent Americans murdered that day. Each one not just a number, but a human being with families and friends who still miss them today. Today that count continues to rise as more people are dying from the effects of that dust cloud when those Two - 110 story buildings collapsed. For many of us we watched this all live on our televisions. WE MUST NEVER FORGET.
 
  All flights in America were forced to land. For the first and only time in America there were no planes flying. The only planes in the air were U.S. Fighter Jets.
 
  Many of the injured were expected to be transported by train to some of our hospitals in Connecticut. For my sister in law, an RN at Bridgeport (CT) Hospital, a Code D was activated. Meaning all off duty nurses were to report back to work. As they waited, nobody arrived.
 
  Retired FDNY Captain John Vigiano lost two of his sons on September 11, 2001. One a FDNY Firefighter (John) and the other a NYPD Detective (Joe). Ironically his two sons were often referred to as "The Twin Towers", named after the two World Trade Center Buildings.
 www.americanpolicenews.com/vigiano.html  
 
  Sometimes there were five or six funerals a day for those FDNY Firefighters. It was sometimes impossible for these firefighters to go to all of these funerals. There was a request made for firefighters from anywhere, just to show up in uniform to try and give each member the full fire department honor they deserved.
 
  Not only was it necessary to fill those 343 firefighter positions to give the city adequate coverage, but there was also a required amount of firefighters needed to continue searching through the huge pile from the collapse of these two buildings. In addition there was a commitment by the members of the FDNY to cover each and every firehouse in which a funeral was occurring. Just so that those who worked with them could attend the funeral of those they shared the same firehouse with. There were times when those guys did not get home to see their own families for weeks. And this went on for almost a year.
 
  Today, many Ground Zero Firefighters, EMTs, Police Officers, and other nearby Ground Zero workers have come down with 9/11 linked cancer. Others have severe breathing problems. PLUS, the other, over 5,400 people who have suffered from the 9/11 linked cancer. They were also exposed to that dust.
 
  There were many hero's that day. Each one with a story to be told.
 
  A country singer named Alan Jackson decided to write a song about it. He called it; "Where were you when the World Stopped Turning". For those of us who watched these events play out, it is a day we will Never Forget. To this day, 15 years later, it is still hard to believe. Our condolences to those who lost so many of your friends and family members. We thank all of the first responders and other workers involved for the job you did. A job that no one else in our civilized society, has ever had to do.
 
  As we listen to this song, these are some of the memories we saw. Live on TV as it happened, from The Day of Terror, September 11, 2001.
 
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ittG66J8_hQ

The Day of Terror, September 11, 2001, when America was attacked.
 
This year marks the 15th Anniversary and we should NEVER FORGET. So many innocent lives were taken away. Including:
 
  343 - New York City Firefighters (FDNY)
  37 - Police Officers of the Port Authority of NY/NJ (PAPD)
  24 - New York City Police Officers (NYPD)
  8 - EMTs/Medics
 
It was the "Deadliest Attack on American soil".
 
 2,606 - killed from the World Trade Center, plus 6,000 injured.
  265 - killed from the Four planes that crashed (Two into the WTC, One in a field in Shanksville, Pa., and One into the Pentagon)
  125 - killed at the U.S. Pentagon
 
2,996 - Totally innocent Americans murdered that day. Each one not just a number, but a human being with families and friends who still miss them today. Today that count continues to rise as more people are dying from the effects of that dust cloud when those Two - 110 story buildings collapsed. For many of us we watched this all live on our televisions. WE MUST NEVER FORGET.
 
  All flights in America were forced to land. For the first and only time in America there were no planes flying. The only planes in the air were U.S. Fighter Jets.
 
  Many of the injured were expected to be transported by train to some of our hospitals in Connecticut. For my sister in law, an RN at Bridgeport (CT) Hospital, a Code D was activated. Meaning all off duty nurses were to report back to work. As they waited, nobody arrived.
 
  Retired FDNY Captain John Vigiano lost two of his sons on September 11, 2001. One a FDNY Firefighter (John) and the other a NYPD Detective (Joe). Ironically his two sons were often referred to as "The Twin Towers", named after the two World Trade Center Buildings.
 www.americanpolicenews.com/vigiano.html  
 
  Sometimes there were five or six funerals a day for those FDNY Firefighters. It was sometimes impossible for these firefighters to go to all of these funerals. There was a request made for firefighters from anywhere, just to show up in uniform to try and give each member the full fire department honor they deserved.
 
  Not only was it necessary to fill those 343 firefighter positions to give the city adequate coverage, but there was also a required amount of firefighters needed to continue searching through the huge pile from the collapse of these two buildings. In addition there was a commitment by the members of the FDNY to cover each and every firehouse in which a funeral was occurring. Just so that those who worked with them could attend the funeral of those they shared the same firehouse with. There were times when those guys did not get home to see their own families for weeks. And this went on for almost a year.
 
  Today, many Ground Zero Firefighters, EMTs, Police Officers, and other nearby Ground Zero workers have come down with 9/11 linked cancer. Others have severe breathing problems. PLUS, the other, over 5,400 people who have suffered from the 9/11 linked cancer. They were also exposed to that dust.
 
  There were many hero's that day. Each one with a story to be told.
 
  A country singer named Alan Jackson decided to write a song about it. He called it; "Where were you when the World Stopped Turning". For those of us who watched these events play out, it is a day we will Never Forget. To this day, 15 years later, it is still hard to believe. Our condolences to those who lost so many of your friends and family members. We thank all of the first responders and other workers involved for the job you did. A job that no one else in our civilized society, has ever had to do.
 
  As we listen to this song, these are some of the memories we saw. Live on TV as it happened, from The Day of Terror, September 11, 2001.
 
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ittG66J8_hQ

 
  These are jobs that if those Port Chester Firefighters had NOT been eliminated, perhaps could have been filled by younger volunteer members currently from within the Town of Port Chester. They sure  MIGHT have had a better chance of becoming a career firefighter if not taken by those Port Chester Firefighters. But can you blame these places like Rye Brook and Rye. Those guys can just step right into these jobs.
 
  So those younger wanna be career firefighters just think about this. Not only did your leaders sell those Port Chester Firefighters down the river, "they did it to you too". So you all can personally thank your Fire Service Leaders for taking a great possible future away from "YOU TOO".  
 
  And for the younger volunteer members OUTSIDE of Port Chester who have any hopes of someday becoming a career firefighter, "just remember what happened here". It won't affect me, but it sure might have an affect on you.

The Day of Terror, September 11, 2001, when America was attacked.
 
This year marks the 15th Anniversary and we should NEVER FORGET. So many innocent lives were taken away. Including:
 
  343 - New York City Firefighters (FDNY)
  37 - Police Officers of the Port Authority of NY/NJ (PAPD)
  24 - New York City Police Officers (NYPD)
  8 - EMTs/Medics
 
It was the "Deadliest Attack on American soil".
 
 2,606 - killed from the World Trade Center, plus 6,000 injured.
  265 - killed from the Four planes that crashed (Two into the WTC, One in a field in Shanksville, Pa., and One into the Pentagon)
  125 - killed at the U.S. Pentagon
 
2,996 - Totally innocent Americans murdered that day. Each one not just a number, but a human being with families and friends who still miss them today. Today that count continues to rise as more people are dying from the effects of that dust cloud when those Two - 110 story buildings collapsed. For many of us we watched this all live on our televisions. WE MUST NEVER FORGET.
 
  All flights in America were forced to land. For the first and only time in America there were no planes flying. The only planes in the air were U.S. Fighter Jets.
 
  Many of the injured were expected to be transported by train to some of our hospitals in Connecticut. For my sister in law, an RN at Bridgeport (CT) Hospital, a Code D was activated. Meaning all off duty nurses were to report back to work. As they waited, nobody arrived.
 
  Retired FDNY Captain John Vigiano lost two of his sons on September 11, 2001. One a FDNY Firefighter (John) and the other a NYPD Detective (Joe). Ironically his two sons were often referred to as "The Twin Towers", named after the two World Trade Center Buildings.
 www.americanpolicenews.com/vigiano.html  
 
  Sometimes there were five or six funerals a day for those FDNY Firefighters. It was sometimes impossible for these firefighters to go to all of these funerals. There was a request made for firefighters from anywhere, just to show up in uniform to try and give each member the full fire department honor they deserved.
 
  Not only was it necessary to fill those 343 firefighter positions to give the city adequate coverage, but there was also a required amount of firefighters needed to continue searching through the huge pile from the collapse of these two buildings. In addition there was a commitment by the members of the FDNY to cover each and every firehouse in which a funeral was occurring. Just so that those who worked with them could attend the funeral of those they shared the same firehouse with. There were times when those guys did not get home to see their own families for weeks. And this went on for almost a year.
 
  Today, many Ground Zero Firefighters, EMTs, Police Officers, and other nearby Ground Zero workers have come down with 9/11 linked cancer. Others have severe breathing problems. PLUS, the other, over 5,400 people who have suffered from the 9/11 linked cancer. They were also exposed to that dust.
 
  There were many hero's that day. Each one with a story to be told.
 
  A country singer named Alan Jackson decided to write a song about it. He called it; "Where were you when the World Stopped Turning". For those of us who watched these events play out, it is a day we will Never Forget. To this day, 15 years later, it is still hard to believe. Our condolences to those who lost so many of your friends and family members. We thank all of the first responders and other workers involved for the job you did. A job that no one else in our civilized society, has ever had to do.
 
  As we listen to this song, these are some of the memories we saw. Live on TV as it happened, from The Day of Terror, September 11, 2001.
 
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ittG66J8_hQ

This is a 9/11 Story of TRUE Brotherhood within the fire service after the Tragic events of September 11, 2001. A story about an FDNY Rescue Company that lost all of it's members when they responded to the World Trade Center. A story about a FDNY Firefighter who dedicated himself to the children of those lost members, FDNY Firefighter Jo Jo Esposito.
 
There's hundreds of stories of people helping people after the Worst Attack in the history of America.
 
Here is that story of Jo Jo.
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/nyer-of-the-week/2016/09/3/nyer-of-the-week--jo-jo-esposito-stays-loyal-to-the-families-of-his-fallen-brothers.html 

 
  These are jobs that if those Port Chester Firefighters had NOT been eliminated, perhaps could have been filled by younger volunteer members currently from within the Town of Port Chester. They sure  MIGHT have had a better chance of becoming a career firefighter if not taken by those Port Chester Firefighters. But can you blame these places like Rye Brook and Rye. Those guys can just step right into these jobs.
 
  So those younger wanna be career firefighters just think about this. Not only did your leaders sell those Port Chester Firefighters down the river, "they did it to you too". So you all can personally thank your Fire Service Leaders for taking a great possible future away from "YOU TOO".  
 
  And for the younger volunteer members OUTSIDE of Port Chester who have any hopes of someday becoming a career firefighter, "just remember what happened here". It won't affect me, but it sure might have an affect on you.

This is a 9/11 Story of TRUE Brotherhood within the fire service after the Tragic events of September 11, 2001. A story about an FDNY Rescue Company that lost all of it's members when they responded to the World Trade Center. A story about a FDNY Firefighter who dedicated himself to the children of those lost members, FDNY Firefighter Jo Jo Esposito.
 
There's hundreds of stories of people helping people after the Worst Attack in the history of America.
 
Here is that story of Jo Jo.
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/nyer-of-the-week/2016/09/3/nyer-of-the-week--jo-jo-esposito-stays-loyal-to-the-families-of-his-fallen-brothers.html 

This is a 9/11 Story of TRUE Brotherhood within the fire service after the Tragic events of September 11, 2001. A story about an FDNY Rescue Company that lost all of it's members when they responded to the World Trade Center. A story about a FDNY Firefighter who dedicated himself to the children of those lost members, FDNY Firefighter Jo Jo Esposito.
 
There's hundreds of stories of people helping people after the Worst Attack in the history of America.
 
Here is that story of Jo Jo.
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/nyer-of-the-week/2016/09/3/nyer-of-the-week--jo-jo-esposito-stays-loyal-to-the-families-of-his-fallen-brothers.html 

Remember Keith Roma...Fire Patrol 2 number "344".....RIP brother

This is a 9/11 Story of TRUE Brotherhood within the fire service after the Tragic events of September 11, 2001. A story about an FDNY Rescue Company that lost all of it's members when they responded to the World Trade Center. A story about a FDNY Firefighter who dedicated himself to the children of those lost members, FDNY Firefighter Jo Jo Esposito.
 
There's hundreds of stories of people helping people after the Worst Attack in the history of America.
 
Here is that story of Jo Jo.
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/nyer-of-the-week/2016/09/3/nyer-of-the-week--jo-jo-esposito-stays-loyal-to-the-families-of-his-fallen-brothers.html 

Speaking for myself, as a young career firefighter and a guy who wanted to learn, the FDNY was the place to be. The timing was perfect. It was the busiest time in the history of the fire service and it wasn't necessary for me to take an airline flight into the city. Less than a tank of gas and I was set for the entire day.
 
No place offered so much when it came to learning the job. Every time I made the trip, I always came back with a new experience. I would make that trip just about every week. At one point I was so "hooked", I was visiting the place twice a week making my 120 mile trip. Just hang around a bit and before long there was some action to see.
 
The action was across the board. A brush fire with helicopter water drops, some serious MVAs, and fires of every kind. From row frames to 2 1/2 frames, high rises to car fires, and everything in between.
 
I would attend classes given every three months at the FDNY Fire Academy by speakers from the FDNY. Put on for a $25.00 donation they collected which went to the NYC Burn Center. That was run by the late Lt Jim Curran, a highly decorated member of FDNYs Rescue 1. Among the GREAT speakers were Chief Ray Downy and Lt Andy Fredricks who we lost on 9/11. Chief Salka was a regular from Batt 18. I also got their Training Manuals and publications, reading them, cover to cover.
 
 I am here to say that my days/nights following the FDNY taught me much more than any book or class room that I attended. I attended many, but no offense, "it just wasn't the same".
 
Today, at age 67, and after following the FDNY for almost 50 years, I am here to tell you that there is no place in the world like it if you want to learn. The guys treated me great too, and I thank them for that.
 
 My only regret I have is the time I brought down a young firefighter from a small dept. He started telling them "how much work "he" is catching and how to fight fires".  We had been talking outside of a very busy Bronx firehouse with a few of the members. I could see things were not going good. They then asked him if, "you have buildings like that across from your firehouse" (as they pointed to almost an entire block of burned out buildings). It was a quick good bye, then the guys went in and the doors came down. And I never brought him down again.

Yes, very impressive. But let's go back to the 1970s. The time is referred to as "The FDNY War Years". No other place in the world has seen more fires on a daily basis than the FDNY.
 
 I believe the busiest month for MULTIPLE ALARM FIRES was August, 1977 (according to a newsletter from the Fire Bell Club). During that time, the FDNY had a TOTAL of 100 Multiple Alarm Fires. The numbers of fires were staggering at the time.
 
 In addition, I recently had the honor of meeting the Captain of Engine 82 during the time when a famous book came out called "Report from Engine Co 82". According to this former captain, now retired chief, Engine Co 82 responded to 210 working building fires just in July, 1975. That's a rate of seven working fires every day of the month. In fact, it's more than the Entire City had for the previous month of August, 2016.
 
  This now retired FDNY Chief is 79 years old. Still loves the job but as he says "It was the Best and the Worst of times". Many civilians and firefighters were hurt and many lost their lives. In the South Bronx where Engine 82 was, along with many other large areas of the city, it looked much like a bomb had been dropped on it. All because so many buildings were burned out from the huge number of fires.
 
  I spent many days down there buffing and watching these guys work. What I saw was Unbelievable and I will never forget it. I once brought a few buddies down there with me. In only a few square miles we saw 11 working fires that day. Of course there were many more throughout the city as well. But after spending about 12-14 hours there it was time to leave. As we left the Bronx, one of the guys told me, "it was like they opened the gates and let us out".
 
  Today I have many friends who are retired members of the FDNY during that time. I still can't believe the amount of work these guys caught. I refer to them as "The Greatest Generation of Firefighters". You can check out www.nycfire.net in the history section for more details. The thread "My Younger Buff Years", is one of them.
 
  And here's a few pictures from another good friend who had permission to ride with a few Harlem companies back in the 1980s.  www.fdnysbravest.com

Just as a point of interest.
 
Last month, August, 2016, the FDNY had (Unofficially) 166 All Hands Fires. Fires ONLY. This Excludes any all hands operating for things such as Haz Mat incidents, MVAs, Water Rescue, Confined Space Rescue etc.
 
  In addition City Wide there were:
   8 - Second Alarms
   2 - Third Alarms
   1 - 4th Alarm
   1 - 5th Alarm
   1 - 6th Alarm

Yes, very impressive. But let's go back to the 1970s. The time is referred to as "The FDNY War Years". No other place in the world has seen more fires on a daily basis than the FDNY.
 
 I believe the busiest month for MULTIPLE ALARM FIRES was August, 1977 (according to a newsletter from the Fire Bell Club). During that time, the FDNY had a TOTAL of 100 Multiple Alarm Fires. The numbers of fires were staggering at the time.
 
 In addition, I recently had the honor of meeting the Captain of Engine 82 during the time when a famous book came out called "Report from Engine Co 82". According to this former captain, now retired chief, Engine Co 82 responded to 210 working building fires just in July, 1975. That's a rate of seven working fires every day of the month. In fact, it's more than the Entire City had for the previous month of August, 2016.
 
  This now retired FDNY Chief is 79 years old. Still loves the job but as he says "It was the Best and the Worst of times". Many civilians and firefighters were hurt and many lost their lives. In the South Bronx where Engine 82 was, along with many other large areas of the city, it looked much like a bomb had been dropped on it. All because so many buildings were burned out from the huge number of fires.
 
  I spent many days down there buffing and watching these guys work. What I saw was Unbelievable and I will never forget it. I once brought a few buddies down there with me. In only a few square miles we saw 11 working fires that day. Of course there were many more throughout the city as well. But after spending about 12-14 hours there it was time to leave. As we left the Bronx, one of the guys told me, "it was like they opened the gates and let us out".
 
  Today I have many friends who are retired members of the FDNY during that time. I still can't believe the amount of work these guys caught. I refer to them as "The Greatest Generation of Firefighters". You can check out www.nycfire.net in the history section for more details. The thread "My Younger Buff Years", is one of them.
 
  And here's a few pictures from another good friend who had permission to ride with a few Harlem companies back in the 1980s.  www.fdnysbravest.com

"lt411", if you ever saw a white kid wearing shorts showing some chubby legs, carrying a scanner in one hand and a camera in the other, that was probably me. I remember the TCUs and the budget crisis in which they closed 50 companies and laid off 300 firefighters. I spent most of my Bronx buff time first hanging out around 82/31. Then after the place slowed down it started to pick up more to the West Bronx and 92/44 was a favorite area too. Also Eng 41 (now Sqd 41), 48/56, and 75/33. Spent many nights at the McDonalds on Webster Ave near 170th St.
 
  I sure learned a lot from watching you guys operate.
 
  How about the night of the World Series being played at Yankee stadium (1976/77 - ?) when the cameras would focus on a 4th alarm school fire and the late Howard Cowsell told the entire country, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Bronx is burning".
 
  Two presidents, both Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, walked among the burned out shells on Charlotte St promising aid to rebuild the Bronx. It didn't happen right away but Charlotte St is now a block of single family raised ranch houses with yards and white picket fences. From an entire block of five and six story burned out brick apartment buildings.
 
  At one time on Simpson St, the only building in the entire block that wasn't burnt out was the 41st Police Pct.

Pete, just prior to coming on here tonight, I was talking to a high ranking retired member of the NFD. He had just finished reading the latest here and he too, said how you made some very good points. We talked about the two recent letters posted here that were written by those five volunteer chiefs.
 
  My guess is that what will happen to Stamford, will eventually happen in Norwich too. And if the day comes that there is no volunteer fire departments in either city, they CAN'T blame you and they can't blame me for it. These self serving Fire Commanders did it all to themselves if they put themselves out of business.  For those who truly had a desire to help the people of those cities, they too can blame those leaders for what has happened.
 
 
 
 

Perhaps only those who have been directly involved in incidents such as these can fully appreciate the work these Brother and Sister Firefighters have done.
 
Because of these very brave individuals, someone's mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, friend or neighbor is alive today.
 
As we honor the "Bravest of the Bravest", we see what the words "True American Hero's" really mean.
 
Thank you all for the job you do.
 
From New Haven, Ct.
http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20160830/new-haven-firefighters-honored-for-heroic-actions-during-two-rescues 
 
From the FDNY.
 www.firehouse.com/news/12246273/fdny-It-brian-colleluori-recieves-top-valor-award
 
 From Firehouse Magazine.
  www.firehouse.com/article/12236956/2015-valor-awards-winners-4-12

Thanks Garrett, aka "Bad Box", for posting that. What a world it was, huh !!!
 
I remember buffing and setting priorities on which fire I went to. Sometimes rigs would pass by one job, on the way to another.
 
And those Fourth of July's were something else. If I had to work, I always put in for the time off. I would gladly work a Christmas, New Years, or whatever. Just let me be off the 4th of July for a trip to the Bronx.  It sounded like being in the middle of a war zone with all the fireworks, M-80s. Rockets going across the street from both sides. Many landing on the roofs of those buildings. We had to keep all the windows up in the car so none would get in as we rode by.
 
 
 
 

Here is a documentary made in 1972 about Engine Co 82. It's about 50 minutes long so grab yourself a cool one or perhaps a cup of tea. This is how it was. And it wasn't just this one area of the Bronx either.
 
Of course the Safety Officers will go "nuts" when they see this one. But these guys were the most experienced firefighters in the entire world. After most of 82s area was burned out, Bronx companies in the West Bronx started to increase their load dramatically, almost over night.
 
 So just sit back and watch. I'm sure you will be amazed if you haven't seen this before.
 
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygF3NJvy3bY (Sorry link is not working - but go to youtube and type in "The Bronx is Burning")

Thanks Garrett, aka "Bad Box", for posting that. What a world it was, huh !!!
 
I remember buffing and setting priorities on which fire I went to. Sometimes rigs would pass by one job, on the way to another.
 
And those Fourth of July's were something else. If I had to work, I always put in for the time off. I would gladly work a Christmas, New Years, or whatever. Just let me be off the 4th of July for a trip to the Bronx.  It sounded like being in the middle of a war zone with all the fireworks, M-80s. Rockets going across the street from both sides. Many landing on the roofs of those buildings. We had to keep all the windows up in the car so none would get in as we rode by.
 
 
 
 

Here is a documentary made in 1972 about Engine Co 82. It's about 50 minutes long so grab yourself a cool one or perhaps a cup of tea. This is how it was. And it wasn't just this one area of the Bronx either.
 
Of course the Safety Officers will go "nuts" when they see this one. But these guys were the most experienced firefighters in the entire world. After most of 82s area was burned out, Bronx companies in the West Bronx started to increase their load dramatically, almost over night.
 
 So just sit back and watch. I'm sure you will be amazed if you haven't seen this before.
 
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygF3NJvy3bY (Sorry link is not working - but go to youtube and type in "The Bronx is Burning")

 
My brother-in-law's father was in 82 Engine in those days with Dennis Smith. I would have loved to hear his stories, but he has passed.
My brother-in-law keeps his helmet on display in their house to this day. If only that helmet could tell stories.

Yes, very impressive. But let's go back to the 1970s. The time is referred to as "The FDNY War Years". No other place in the world has seen more fires on a daily basis than the FDNY.
 
 I believe the busiest month for MULTIPLE ALARM FIRES was August, 1977 (according to a newsletter from the Fire Bell Club). During that time, the FDNY had a TOTAL of 100 Multiple Alarm Fires. The numbers of fires were staggering at the time.
 
 In addition, I recently had the honor of meeting the Captain of Engine 82 during the time when a famous book came out called "Report from Engine Co 82". According to this former captain, now retired chief, Engine Co 82 responded to 210 working building fires just in July, 1975. That's a rate of seven working fires every day of the month. In fact, it's more than the Entire City had for the previous month of August, 2016.
 
  This now retired FDNY Chief is 79 years old. Still loves the job but as he says "It was the Best and the Worst of times". Many civilians and firefighters were hurt and many lost their lives. In the South Bronx where Engine 82 was, along with many other large areas of the city, it looked much like a bomb had been dropped on it. All because so many buildings were burned out from the huge number of fires.
 
  I spent many days down there buffing and watching these guys work. What I saw was Unbelievable and I will never forget it. I once brought a few buddies down there with me. In only a few square miles we saw 11 working fires that day. Of course there were many more throughout the city as well. But after spending about 12-14 hours there it was time to leave. As we left the Bronx, one of the guys told me, "it was like they opened the gates and let us out".
 
  Today I have many friends who are retired members of the FDNY during that time. I still can't believe the amount of work these guys caught. I refer to them as "The Greatest Generation of Firefighters". You can check out www.nycfire.net in the history section for more details. The thread "My Younger Buff Years", is one of them.
 
  And here's a few pictures from another good friend who had permission to ride with a few Harlem companies back in the 1980s.  www.fdnysbravest.com